Republic Act No. 11685 — Philippine Laws

Eighteenth Congress Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-sixth day of July, two thousand twenty one.

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11685, April 08, 2022 ]

ANACTDECLARING A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF KABAYAN, BOKOD AND BUGUIAS IN THE PROVINCE OF BENGUET; IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TINOC IN THE PROVINCE OF IFUGAO; AND IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAYAPA IN THE PROVINCE OF NUEVA VIZCAYA, A PROTECTED AREA, WITH THE CATEGORY OF PROTECTED LANDSCAPE UNDER THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM (NIPAS), TO BE REFERRED TO AS THE MT. PULAG PROTECTED LANDSCAPE, PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

ARTICLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1

Title. ThisActshall be known as the "Mt. Pulag Protected LandscapeAct."

Section 2

Declaration of Policy. Cognizant of the profound impact of human activities on all components of the natural environment, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to secure for the Filipino people of present and future generations, the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals through the declaration of protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) within the classification of national park as provided for in the Constitution.

In recognition of the richness of the biological resources, both flora and fauna, that are native and distinct to Mt. Pulag, as well as their aesthetic and ecological importance, a parcel of land located in the municipalities of Kabayan, Bokod and Buguias in the Province of Benguet; Municipality of Tinoc in the Province of Ifugao; and Municipality of Kayapa in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya, is hereby declared a protected area with the category of protected landscape, and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Mt. Pulag Protected Landscape (MPPL). As such, the State shall ensure the conservation, protection, management and rehabilitation of the area. It is likewise recognized that effective administration of this area is possible only through cooperation among national government, local government units (LGUs), concerned nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private entities and local communities. The use and enjoyment of this area must be consistent with the principles of biological diversity and sustainable development.

Towards this end, the State shall ensure the full implementation of thisAct, the mobilization of resources for the institutional mechanisms herein established, and the full scientific and technical support needed for the conservation of biodiversity and the integrity of the ecosystems, culture and indigenous practices.

Section 3

Definition of Terms. As used in thisAct:

(a)Buffer zonesrefer to identified areas outside the boundaries of and immediately adjacent to designated protected areas that need special development control in order to avoid or minimize harm to the protected area; (b)Conservationrefers to anyactoractsof preservation and sustainable utilization of wildlife or maintenance, restoration and enhancement of habitats; (c)Indigenous cultural communities (ICCs)/Indigenous peoples (IPs)refer to groups of people sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions, and other distinctive cultural traits, and who have, since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized a territory; (d)National parkrefers to land of the public domain classified as such in the Constitution which includes all areas under the NIPAS, primarily designated for the conservation of native plants and animals, their associated habitats and cultural diversity; (e)Protected arearefers to an identified portion of land and water set aside by reason of its unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation; (f)Protected landscaperefers to an area of national significance which are characterized by the harmonious interaction of human and land and water while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation, tourism, and other economic activities; and (g)Tenured migrantsrefer to protected area occupants who have been actually, continuously and presently occupying a portion of the protected area for five (5) years before the proclamation or law establishing the same as a protected area, and are solely dependent therein for subsistence.

Section 4

Classification as a National Park. The MPPL is comprised of a parcel of land of the public domain situated in the municipalities of Kabayan, Bokod and Buguias in the Province of Benguet; Municipality of Tinoc in the Province of Ifugao; and Municipality of Kayapa in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya. All lands of the public domain within the coverage and scope of the MPPL shall fall under the classification of national park as provided for in Article XII, Section 3 of the Constitution.

Section 5

Scope and Coverage. The boundaries of the MPPL are more particularly described as the area beginning at a point marked "1" on the map, being S 3235'51" E, 2808.19 meters from PRS92 control monument "BGT-3104" with geographic coordinates 1637'39.660" Latitude, 12050'12.213" Longitude located in Barangay Poblacion, Municipality of Kabayan, Province of Benguet,

thence	N 2614'30" E	4375.24	meters to corner 2;
thence	N 1707'31" E	3343.51	meters to corner 3;
thence	N 3050'10" W	4821.08	meters to corner 4;
thence	S 8122'09" E	113.28	meters to corner 5;
thence	S 2248'57" E	157.31	meters to corner 6;
thence	N 7005'47" E	185.06	meters to corner 7;
thence	S 6856'31" E	200.38	meters to corner 8;
thence	N 7729'40" E	263.24	meters to corner 9;
thence	N 8300'00" E	1900.01	meters to corner 10;
thence	S 7207'30" E	2109.29	meters to corner 11;
thence	S 4323'59" E	2695.00	meters to corner 12;
thence	S 2048'18" E	2314.74	meters to corner 13;
thence	S 3400'26" E	931.62	meters to corner 14;
thence	S 7337'03" E	238.40	meters to corner 15;
thence	S 1021'39" E	73.29	meters to corner 16;
thence	S 8829'36" E	270.05	meters to corner 17;
thence	N 2439'16" E	63.98	meters to corner 18;
thence	S 8408'27" E	170.84	meters to corner 19;
thence	N 5759'50" E	258.57	meters to corner 20;
thence	S 2128'43" E	154.61	meters to corner 21;
thence	S 6110'42" E	139.71	meters to corner 22;
thence	S 1040'45" W	129.38	meters to corner 23;
thence	S 2846'18" W	284.21	meters to corner 24;
thence	N 8547'03" W	155.62	meters to corner 25;
thence	S 3804'39" W	229.39	meters to corner 26;
thence	S 3533'33" E	182.40	meters to corner 27;
thence	S 6103'18" W	110.38	meters to corner 28;
thence	S 0321'25" E	170.09	meters to corner 29;
thence	S 1730'59" E	2209.46	meters to corner 30;
thence	S 2133'03" W	4382.88	meters to corner 31;
thence	N 7332'13" E	168.99	meters to corner 32;
thence	N 3704'02" E	553.09	meters to corner 33;
thence	S 7128'45" E	334.84	meters to corner 34;
thence	N 3348'29" E	213.98	meters to corner 35;
thence	S 6605'24" E	705.03	meters to corner 36;
thence	N 5639'33" E	144.42	meters to corner 37;
thence	S 0459'37" W	164.14	meters to corner 38;
thence	S 3148'10" W	3731.06	meters to corner 39;
thence	S 0343'02" W	2182.30	meters to corner 40;
thence	S 4232'04" W	506.25	meters to corner 41;
thence	S 0950'12" E	362.41	meters to corner 42;
thence	N 7927'01" W	4013.66	meters to corner 43;
thence	N 3549'14" W	3820.54	meters to corner 44;
thence	N 1456'09" E	2401.82	meters to corner 45;
thence	N 8229'16" W	182.14	meters to corner 46;
thence	N 0048'05" E	378.39	meters to corner 47;
thence	N 4232'45" W	262.17	meters to corner 48;
thence	N 0315'15" W	396.19	meters to corner 49;
thence	N 5530'29" W	235.95	meters to corner 50;
thence	S 3650'04" W	213.39	meters to corner 51;
thence	N 6643'04" W	142.58	meters to corner 52;
thence	N 0210'54" W	166.81	meters to corner 53;
thence	N 5340'08" W	253.22	meters to corner 54;
thence	S 5310'11" W	229.08	meters to corner 55;
thence	N 5952'32" W	148.67	meters to corner 56;
thence	S 4126'12" W	153.52	meters to corner 57;
thence	N 8439'16" W	332.12	meters to corner 1,

the point of beginning, containing an area of eleven thousand six hundred two (11,602) hectares, more or less.

Section 6

Establishment of Buffer Zones. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) created under Section 7 of thisAct, may designate areas surrounding the MPPL as buffer zones for the purpose of providing an extra layer of protection where restrictions may be applied:Provided, That, in cases where the designated buffer zone would cover private lands, the owners thereof shall be required to design their development with due consideration to the protected area management plan.

ARTICLE II MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS

Section 7

Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of thisAct, a PAMB shall be created to oversee the management of the MPPL. The PAMB shall be composed of the following:

(a)DENR Regional Executive Director for Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), as Chairperson; (b)DENR Regional Executive Director for Region II, as member; (c)Governors of the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya or their duly authorized representatives; (d)Senators of theRepublicof the Philippines who are duly registered residents of the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao or Nueva Vizcaya, or their duly designated representatives, unless the Senators decline the membership in the PAMB; (e)District Representatives of the Congressional Districts where the MPPL is located, or their duly designated representatives, unless the District Representatives decline the membership in the PAMB; (f)Mayors of the municipalities of Kabayan, Bokod and Buguias in the Province of Benguet; Municipality of Tinoc in the Province of Ifugao; and Municipality of Kayapa in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya, or their duly authorized representatives; (g)Chairpersons of all thebarangayswith territorial jurisdiction over the MPPL; (h)Regional Directors of the following government agencies, namely: the Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of National Defense (DND), and the Department of Tourism (DOT); (i)Three (3) representatives from either NGOs or people's organizations (POs) based in the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao or Nueva Vizcaya, duly accredited both by the DENR and the provincial government. The NGOs or POs represented should have been in existence for at least five (5) years and with track record in or related to protected area management; (j)At least one (1) but not more than three (3) representatives from all the ICCs/IPs present in the area and recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); (k)One (1) representative from an academic institution, preferably from a university or college in the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, or Nueva Vizcaya, with proven track record in or related to protected area management; and (l)One (1) representative from the private sector, preferably a resident of the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, or Nueva Vizcaya, who is distinguished in a profession or field of interest relevant to protected area management. The terms of office of members of the PAMB, as well as the grounds for their removal, shall be in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992," as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the "Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018."

Section 8

Powers and Functions of the PAMB. The PAMB shall have the following powers and functions:

(a)Oversee the management of the MPPL; (b)Approve policies, plans and programs, proposals, agreements, and other related documents for the management of the MPPL; (c)Approve the management plan of the MPPL and ensure its harmonization with and integration into the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, land use plan and other development plans, public or private, and their implementation; (d)Adopt a manual of operations to include rules of procedures in the conduct of business, and the creation of committees and their respective terms of reference; (e)Recommend the deputation of appropriate agencies and individuals for the enforcement of the laws, rules and regulations governing the management of the MPPL; (f)Allocate financial resources for the implementation of the management plan and manage the Protected Area Retention Income Account and other funds in accordance with government accounting, budgeting, and auditing rules and regulations; (g)Set fees and charges in accordance with existing guidelines; (h)Issue rules and regulations for the resolution of conflicts through appropriate and effective means; (i)Recommend appropriate policy changes to the DENR and other government authorities with respect to the management of the MPPL; (j)Monitor and assess the performance of the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) and other protected area personnel and compliance of partners with the terms and conditions of any undertaking, contract or agreement relative to any project or activity within the MPPL; (k)Recommend from among a shortlist of qualified candidates, the designation or appointment of the PASu; and (l)Assess the effectiveness of the management of the MPPL:Provided, That the members of the PAMB representing the LGUs and national agencies shall inform their respective constituents, offices or sectors, of PAMB-approved or other relevant policies, rules, regulations, programs, and projects and shall ensure that the provisions of thisActand the rules and regulations issued to implement it are complied with and used as reference and framework in their respective plans, policies, programs, and projects. Failure to comply with the foregoing shall be the basis for disciplinary action against such member according to administrative rules and regulations and such penalties as the PAMB may provide:Provided, further, That the DENR, through the Regional Director, shall ensure that the PAMBactswithin the scope of its powers and functions.

In case of conflict between the resolutions issued by the PAMB and the existing administrative orders of national application, the latter shall prevail.

Section 9

The Protected Area Management Office (PAMO). There is hereby established a Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) to be headed by a PASu who shall supervise the day to day management, protection, and administration of the MPPL. The PASu shall hold a permanent plantilla position and shall be appointed by the DENR Secretary. A sufficientnumberof support staff with permanent plantilla positions shall likewise be appointed by the DENR Secretary to assist the PASu in the management of the MPPL.

The PASu shall be primarily accountable to the PAMB and the DENR for the management and operations of the MPPL. Pursuant thereto, the PASu shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

(a)Prepare the management plan, in consultation with the stakeholders, including the annual work and financial plan and ensure its implementation; (b)Ensure the integration of the MPPL management plans, programs, projects, and policies with relevant national and LGUs' plans and programs; (c)Provide secretariat services to the PAMB and its committees and ensure the availability of relevant and timely information for decision-making; (d)Formulate and recommend to the PAMB proposed policies, rules, regulations, and programs; (e)Establish, operate, and maintain a database management system which shall be an important basis for decision-making; (f)Enforce the laws, rules and regulations relevant to the MPPL, commence and institute administrative and legal actions in collaboration with other government agencies or organizations, and assist in the prosecution of offenses committed in violation of the provisions of thisAct; (g)Monitor, evaluate, and report the implementation of management activities of the MPPL; (h)Request for and receive any technical assistance, support or advice from any agency or instrumentality of the government as well as academic institutions, NGOs, and the private sector, as may be necessary for the effective management, protection and administration of the MPPL; (i)Issue permits and clearances for activities that implement the management plan and other permitted activities in accordance with terms, conditions, and criteria established by the PAMB:Provided, That all permits for extraction of natural resources, including collection of wildlife, and its by-products or derivatives for research purposes, shall continue to be issued by relevant authorities, subject to prior clearance from the PAMB, through the PASu, in accordance with the specificactsto be covered; (j)Collect and receive pertinent fees, charges, donations, and other income for the MPPL:Provided, That such fees, charges, donations, and other income collected and received shall be reported regularly to the PAMB and the DENR in accordance with existing guidelines; (k)Prepare and recommend to the PAMB, approval of the annual work and financial plans of the MPPL based on the management plan; and (l)Perform such other functions as the PAMB and the DENR may assign. The PAMO may be augmented by the deputized local environment and natural resources officers upon the recommendation of the PAMB and approval of the DENR.

ARTICLE III PROCEEDS AND FEES

Section 10. The Mt

Pulag Protected Landscape Integrated Protected Area Fund. There is hereby established a trust fund to be known as the Mt. Pulag Protected Landscape Integrated Protected Area Fund (MPPL-IPAF) for purposes of financing projects of the MPPL and the NIPAS. All income generated from the operation and management of wild flora and fauna in the MPPL shall accrue to the MPPL-IPAF. The income shall be derived from fees from permitted sale and export of flora and fauna and other resources from the MPPL, proceeds from lease of multiple-use areas, contributions from industries and facilities directly benefiting from the MPPL, and such other fees and income derived from the operation of the MPPL.

The PAMB shall retain seventy-five percent (75%) of all revenues raised through the above means, which shall be deposited to the Protected Area-Retained Income Account (PA-RIA) in any authorized government depository bank within the locality:Provided, That disbursements out of such deposits shall be used solely for the protection, maintenance, administration, and management of the MPPL and implementation of duly approved projects of the PAMB. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of revenues shall be deposited as a special account in the general fund in the National Treasury for purposes of financing the programs and projects of the NIPAS.

The fund may be augmented by grants, donations, and endowment from various sources, domestic or foreign:Provided, That the fund shall be deposited in full as a special account in the National Treasury and disbursements therefrom shall be 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:Provided, further, That the fund shall not be used to cover personal services expenditures.

The LGUs shall continue to impose and collect all other fees not enumerated herein which they have traditionally collected, such as business permits, property tax and rentals of LGUs' facilities.

ARTICLE IV TRANSITORY AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 11

Appropriations. The Secretary of the DENR shall immediately include in the Department's program the implementation of thisAct, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General AppropriationsAct.

Section 12

Suppletory Application of the NIPAS Law. The provisions of Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, shall have suppletory application to thisAct.

Section 13

Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of thisAct, the Secretary of the DENR shall, in consultation with the local governments of the municipalities of Kabayan, Bokod and Buguias in the Province of Benguet; the Municipality of Tinoc in the Province of Ifugao; and Municipality of Kayapa in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya, the provincial governments of Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya, and concerned national government agencies, issue the corresponding rules and regulations for the effective implementation of thisAct.

Section 14

Separability Clause. If any section or provision of thisActis held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining sections or provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 15

Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, executive orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with thisActare hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 16

Effectivity. ThisActshall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in theOfficial Gazetteor in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

| (SGD.)VICENTE C. SOTTO III President of the Senate | (SGD.)LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO Speaker of the House of Representatives |

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was by the House of Representatives on May 26, 2021, amended by the Senate of the Philippines on September 27, 2021, and which amendments were concurred in by the House of Representatives on December 7, 2021.

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA

Secretary of the Senate

MARK LLANDRO L. MENDOZA

Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: APR 08 2022

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

President of the Philippines

For information and research only, and not legal advice. This text may not reflect later amendments. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.

In plain language