Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape Act

April 8, 2022

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11684

AN ACT DECLARING A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA, A PROTECTED AREA WITH THE CATEGORY OF PROTECTED LANDSCAPE UNDER THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM (NIPAS), TO BE REFERRED TO AS THE MT. ARAYAT PROTECTED LANDSCAPE, PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

ARTICLE I

General Provisions

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape Act."

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. Arayat in the Province of Pampanga, as well as their aesthetic and ecological importance, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure the conservation, protection, management and rehabilitation of this area. The State shall ensure the full implementation of this Act, the mobilization of resources for the institutional mechanism herein established, and the full scientific and technical support needed for the conservation of biodiversity and the integrity of the ecosystem, culture and religious practices.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) Buffer zones refer 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) Conservation refers to any act or acts of preservation and sustainable utilization of wildlife or maintenance, restoration and enhancement of habitats;

(c) Indigenous cultural communities/Indigenous peoples refer to a group 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) Protected area refers to identified portions of land and water set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation;

(e) Protected landscape or seascape refers to an area of national significance which is characterized by the harmonious interaction of human, land, and water while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation, tourism, and other economic activities; and

(f) Tenured migrants refer 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 Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape (MAPL), bordering the municipalities of Arayat and Magalang in the Province of Pampanga, is hereby declared a protected area with the category of protected landscape pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, or the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992," as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, or the "Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018." All lands of the public domain within the coverage and scope of this Act shall fall under the classification of national park as provided for in the Constitution.

SECTION 5. Scope and Coverage. — The boundaries of the MAPL are more particularly described as follows:

(a) Lot I pertains to the area beginning at a point marked "1" on the Map, which is S 56º56'42" E, 125.875 meters from PRS'92 Control Monument "PMG-73," with a geographic coordinates of 15º10'19.58023" Latitude and 120º45'36.60799" Longitude located in Barangay San Juan Baño, Municipality of Arayat, Province of Pampanga:

thence N 69º08'09" W 612.13 meters to corner 2;

thence N 69º27'22" W 536.23 meters to corner 3;

thence N 64º35'57" W 133.93 meters to corner 4;

thence S 66º06'46" W 523.01 meters to corner 5;

thence S 75º24'27" W 696.11 meters to corner 6;

thence N 75º26'16" W 1017.80 meters to corner 7;

thence N 77º28'22" W 166.22 meters to corner 8;

thence N 88º35'34" W 894.29 meters to corner 9;

thence N 40º17'46" W 765.38 meters to corner 10;

thence N 40º45'18" W 1077.69 meters to corner 11;

thence N 39º43'42" W 576.01 meters to corner 12;

thence N 39º43'42" W 216.22 meters to corner 13;

thence N 37º39'57" W 593.06 meters to corner 14;

thence N 44º08'47" E 258.08 meters to corner 15;

thence N 42º18'55" E 1182.86 meters to corner 16;

thence N 43º04'58" E 1059.68 meters to corner 17;

thence N 41º24'26" E 1067.18 meters to corner 18;

thence N 41º24'26" E 631.26 meters to corner 19;

thence N 09º07'56" E 1049.96 meters to corner 20;

thence N 76º54'20" E 141.75 meters to corner 21;

thence N 41º57'39" E 440.24 meters to corner 22;

thence N 74º10'58" E 611.40 meters to corner 23;

thence N 53º58'15" E 152.95 meters to corner 24;

thence S 65º16'43" E 228.13 meters to corner 25;

thence S 65º16'43" E 1154.26 meters to corner 26;

thence S 67º38'21" E 861.71 meters to corner 27;

thence S 47º43'40" E 767.63 meters to corner 28;

thence S 42º47'37" E 470.52 meters to corner 29;

thence S 23º39'30" E 592.72 meters to corner 30;

thence S 23º39'30" E 714.73 meters to corner 31;

thence S 18º41'17 E 518.15 meters to corner 32;

thence S 26º05'38" E 324.83 meters to corner 33;

thence S 87º03'49" W 909.88 meters to corner 34;

thence S 04º26'00" W 732.22 meters to corner 35;

thence S 02º17'46" W 109.85 meters to corner 36;

thence S 72º14'18" E 246.85 meters to corner 37;

thence S 23º42'08" W 340.67 meters to corner 38;

thence S 23º42'08" W 364.43 meters to corner 39;

thence S 24º37'57" W 587.19 meters to corner 40;

thence S 82º49'15" W 440.75 meters to corner 41;

thence S 06º51'15" E 449.24 meters to corner 42;

thence S 33º23'02" E 350.19 meters to corner 43;

thence S 00º06'26" E 616.45 meters to corner 44;

thence S 39º40'50" W 210.60 meters to corner 45;

thence S 60º14'35" E 157.97 meters to corner 46;

thence S 01º34'25" W 90.49 meters to corner 1,

the point of beginning, comprising an area of three thousand seven hundred eleven and 34/100 (3,711.34) hectares, more or less.

(b) Lot II pertains to the area beginning at a point marked "1" on the Map, which is N 16º15'07" W, 104.288 meters from PRS'92 Control Monument "PMG-73," with a geographic coordinates of 15º10'19.58023" Latitude and 120º45'36.60799" Longitude located in Barangay San Juan Baño, Municipality of Arayat, Province of Pampanga,

thence N 39º40'26" E 225.62 meters to corner 2;

thence N 39º40'26" E 49.86 meters to corner 3;

thence N 01º32'34" W 289.16 meters to corner 4;

thence N 57º33'26" E 59.82 meters to corner 5;

thence N 57º33'26" E 15.52 meters to corner 6;

thence N 54º50'26" E 29.25 meters to corner 7;

thence S 83º01'34" E 42.34 meters to corner 8;

thence N 66º46'26" E 118.44 meters to corner 9;

thence S 47º11'34" E 11.64 meters to corner 10;

thence S 17º03'34" E 11.81 meters to corner 11;

thence S 14º16'26" W 97.75 meters to corner 12;

thence S 04º01'26" W 198.97 meters to corner 13;

thence S 17º23'34" E 32.91 meters to corner 14;

thence S 30º38'34" E 32.56 meters to corner 15;

thence S 53º53'34" E 65.41 meters to corner 16;

thence S 88º42'26" W 122.97 meters to corner 17;

thence S 23º51'26" W 29.11 meters to corner 18;

thence S 40º14'26" W 11.82 meters to corner 19;

thence S 13º15'26" W 32.20 meters to corner 20;

thence S 07º08'34" E 12.75 meters to corner 21;

thence S 17º42'26" W 37.74 meters to corner 22;

thence S 05º57'26" W 58.16 meters to corner 23;

thence S 75º10'26" W 8.58 meters to corner 24;

thence N 71º36'34" W 3.78 meters to corner 25;

thence S 20º31'26" W 7.15 meters to corner 26;

thence S 55º00'26" W 12.06 meters to corner 27;

thence S 11º54'26" W 8.41 meters to corner 28;

thence S 02º52'35" E 10.48 meters to corner 29;

thence S 31º41'25" W 9.37 meters to corner 30;

thence S 19º13'35" E 7.34 meters to corner 31;

thence S 14º58'35" E 5.92 meters to corner 32;

thence S 51º19'35" E 31.20 meters to corner 33;

thence S 32º09'25" W 9.15 meters to corner 34;

thence S 42º20'25" W 85.47 meters to corner 35;

thence S 33º57'25" W 11.82 meters to corner 36;

thence S 08º57'25" W 15.96 meters to corner 37;

thence S 77º25'25" W 21.61 meters to corner 38;

thence S 77º25'25" W 40.99 meters to corner 39;

thence S 77º25'25" W 23.17 meters to corner 40;

thence N 16º53'35" W 6.81 meters to corner 41;

thence N 01º34'25" E 90.49 meters to corner 42;

thence N 60º16'32" W 157.96 meters to corner 1,

the point of beginning, comprising an area of fifteen and 16/100 (15.16) hectares, more or less.

SECTION 6. Establishment of Buffer Zones. — The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), upon the recommendation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), created under Section 7 of this Act, may designate areas surrounding the MAPL 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 this Act, a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) shall be created to oversee the management of the MAPL. The PAMB shall be composed of the following:

(a) DENR Regional Executive Director for Region III, as Chairperson;

(b) Governor of the Province of Pampanga or his/her duly authorized representative;

(c) Senators of the Republic of the Philippines who are duly registered residents of Pampanga, or their duly designated representatives, unless the Senators decline membership in the PAMB;

(d) District Representatives of the Congressional Districts where the MAPL is located, or their duly designated representatives, unless the District Representatives decline the membership in the PAMB;

(e) Mayors of the municipalities of Arayat and Magalang, Province of Pampanga or their duly authorized representatives;

(f) Chairpersons of all the barangays with territorial jurisdiction over the MAPL;

(g) 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);

(h) Three (3) representatives from either nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or people's organizations (POs), based in the Province of Pampanga, 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;

(i) At least one (1) but not more than three (3) representatives from all the indigenous cultural community (ICC)/indigenous people (IP) present in the area and recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP);

(j) One (1) representative from an academic institution, preferably from a university or college in the Province of Pampanga, with proven track record in or related to protected area management relative to any project or activity within the MAPL; and

(k) One (1) representative from the private sector, preferably a resident of the Province of Pampanga, who is distinguished in a profession or field of interest relevant to the protected area management relative to any project or activity within the MAPL.

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, or the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992," as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, or 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 MAPL;

(b) Approve policies, plans and programs, proposals, agreements, and other related documents for the management of the MAPL;

(c) Approve the management plan of the MAPL and ensure its harmonization and integration with the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, land use plan and other development plan, public or private, and its 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 MAPL;

(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 the accounting and budgeting 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 MAPL;

(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;

(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 MAPL: 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 this Act and 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 PAMB acts within 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 Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) who shall supervise the day to day management, protection, and administration of the MAPL. The PASu shall hold a permanent plantilla position and shall be appointed by the DENR Secretary. A sufficient number of support staff with permanent plantilla positions shall likewise be appointed by the DENR Secretary to assist the PASu in the management of the MAPL.

The PASu shall be primarily accountable to the PAMB and the DENR for the management and operations of the MAPL. 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 MAPL 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 MAPL, 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 this Act;

(g) Monitor, evaluate, and report the implementation of management activities of the MAPL;

(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 MAPL;

(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 activities, including collection for research purposes, shall also continue to be issued by relevant authorities, subject to prior clearance from the PAMB, through the PASu, in accordance with the specific acts to be covered;

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

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 MAPL 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 property 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 this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 12. Suppletory Application of the NIPAS Law. — The provisions of Republic Act No. 7586, or the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992," as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, or the "Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018" shall have suppletory application to this Act.

SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DENR shall, in consultation with local governments of the municipalities of Arayat and Magalang, the provincial government of Pampanga, and concerned national government agencies, issue the corresponding rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act is 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 this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 16. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved: April 8, 2022.