PHILIPPINES

In the Philippines the GUIDELINES ON TREASURE HUNTING IN THE PHILIPPINES were previously issued by The Office of the President (Malacanang) but since 2004 became Administrative Order No. 2004-33 and is issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with address as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Visayas Avenue, Diliman
Quezon City

Guidelines In Brief as follows:

APPLICATION FEE:
PhP 10,000.00 (approx. $200 USD).

SHARING AGREEMENT:
After an audited report of expenses has been evaluated and approved by the Oversight Committee, the sharing of the net proceeds shall be as follows;

a) For Treasure Hunting within Public Lands - Seventy five (75) percent to the Government and twenty five (25) percent to the Permit Holder.

b) For Treasure Hunting in Private Lands - Thirty (30) percent to the Government and seventy (70) percent (70) percent to be shared by the Permit Holder and the Landowner.

c) For Shipwrecks/Sunken Vessel Recovery - Fifty (50) percent to the Government and fifty (50) to the Permit Holder.

LICENSING PROCEDURE:
Treasure Hunting/Survey/Salvage Permit - Officially you can receive this within 30 working days after all documentation is evaluated and approved by the Technical Review Committee.

Upon discovery of valuable items the National Museum shall be called upon to determine whether or not they are considered to have cultural and/or historical value.

All treasures found shall be allowed for export only upon approval of the National Heritage Commission and other concerned Government agencies.

SURVEY/SALVAGE AREA:
SEA SITES: The area given for SEA sites is twenty (20) hectares. Once you have the permit that means no one can work within your licensed area.

PHILIPPINE PARTNER COMPANY:
As with most SEA countries, no foreign company can work in the Philippines without having a written Joint-Venture Agreement with a local Philippine Partner/Company. All licenses issued in the Philippines are issued in the name of the local company. All documentation is in English.

FOREIGNERS:
All foreigners who want to work at the site and actually participate in offshore operations MUST also apply for their Work/Business Visas. This process takes about one week (yes, since they actually take your passport you must be physically there in the Philippines during this process).