NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed five bills into law that designate Mt. Pulag and four other Philippine locations as protected areas.

Duterte signed Republic Acts (RAs) 11684, 11685, 11686, 11687, and 11688 on April 8, adding Mt. Arayat in Pampanga, Mt. Pulag in Benguet, Naga-Kabasalan in Zamboanga Sibugay, Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur, and Banao in Kalinga to the National Integrated Protected Places System’s list of protected areas (NIPAS).

The five places are designated as “protected landscapes” under the rules.

“As a result, the state is responsible for the area’s conservation, protection, management, and rehabilitation. It is also acknowledged that the only way to effectively administer this area is for the national government, local government units (LGUs), concerned nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), business entities, and local communities to work together “The RAs sat and read.

The use and enjoyment of protected landscapes must be consistent with the ideals of biological diversity and sustainable development, according to the legislation.

The rules require the state to mobilize resources for institutional structures, as well as provide all necessary scientific and technical support for biodiversity protection, ecosystem integrity, culture, and indigenous practices.

Under Republic Acts 11684, 11685, 11686, 11687, and 11688, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may designate areas surrounding protected areas for the purpose of providing a “extra layer of protection” where restrictions may be applied, based on the recommendation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).

The statutes stipulate that “in circumstances where the defined buffer zone would involve private properties, the owners thereof shall be obligated to design their development with due respect to the protected area management plan.”

Within 90 days of the regulations taking effect, the PAMB will be established to oversee the management of protected landscapes.

DENR Regional Executive Director will serve as the board’s chairman.

PAMO (Protected Area Management Office) will be established as well. This will be led by a Protected Area Superintendent (PASu), who will be in charge of the protected areas’ day-to-day management, protection, and administration.

A trust fund will also be established for the purpose of project financing.

All income earned will be placed into the Protected Area-Retained Income Account in any designated government depository bank within the locality, with the PAMB keeping 75%.

Grants, contributions, and endowment from domestic and international sources may be used to supplement the fund.

According to the laws, “the fund shall be deposited in full as a special account in the National Treasury, with disbursements made solely for the protection, maintenance, administration, and management of the NIPAS and duly approved projects endorsed by the PAMB in accordance with existing accounting, budgeting, and auditing rules and regulations.”

The RAs emphasized that the fund should not be used for personal services.

The LGUs are instructed to continue levying taxes and collecting any other fees that they have traditionally collected, such as business permits, property tax, and facility leases.

The legislation, which were published on Thursday, take effect 15 days after they are published in the Official Gazette or a wide circulation newspaper.

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