Exception to Salvage Law Procedures
- Establishes a special procedure as an exception to the technical requirements of the general Salvage Law
- Intended to hasten settlement of salvage claims and disposition of salvaged derelicts
Notification and Claims Filing Process
- Salvors must report successful salvage operations to the Bureau of Customs
- Known owners or rightful claimants must be notified within seventy-two (72) hours of the salvage report
- The notified parties have seventy-two (72) hours to file their claims
- Failure to file a claim within this period results in immediate award of the derelict to the salving party as salvage compensation
Procedures for Unknown Owners
- If the owners or rightful parties are unknown, the salvaged derelicts shall be advertised for public bidding
- Advertisement to run for three successive days in a newspaper of general circulation
- Public bidding shall then be conducted immediately as scheduled
Conditions for Awarding Salved Derelicts
- If no bids are received or the highest bid is insufficient to cover a reasonable salvage claim, the bid shall be rejected
- In such cases, the salvaged derelict shall be awarded to the salving party
Legal and Administrative Directive
- This letter serves as a directive to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs for immediate compliance
- Signed by the President of the Philippines, signifying authoritative and binding instruction