Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has enacted three legislative measures to designate parcels of land in the provinces of Guimaras, Quezon, and Albay as protected areas. On July 9, Marcos signed Republic Acts (RAs) 12225, 12226, and 12227, integrating areas in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras; San Andres, Quezon; and the municipalities of Polangui and Oas, as well as the cities of Ligao and Tabaco in Albay, into the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
According to Philippines News Agency, RA 12225 classifies the protected area in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras as a national park, named Taklong and Tandog Group of Islands Natural Park. RA 12226 designates the Alibijaban Wilderness Area in San Andres, Quezon as the Alibijaban Protected Landscape and Seascape (APLS). RA 12227 identifies the area in Polangui and Oas municipalities, along with Ligao and Tabaco cities in Albay, as the Mt. Masaraga Protected Landscape.
The legislative acts mandate the conservation, protection, management, and rehabilitation of these areas, emphasizing cooperation among national and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private entities, and local communities. The laws stipulate that the use of these areas should align with biological diversity and sustainable development principles.
To manage these sites, the laws establish Protected Area Management Boards (PAMBs) consisting of representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, legislators, government agencies, local government units (LGUs), indigenous groups, and NGOs. A trust fund will be created to finance projects for these protected areas, with PAMBs retaining 75 percent of all generated revenues, deposited into a Protected Area-Retained Income Account at a local government depository bank.
The trust fund can be supplemented by grants, donations, and endowments from domestic or foreign sources and will be used exclusively for the protection, maintenance, administration, and management of NIPAS and approved projects endorsed by the PAMB. The laws explicitly state that these funds should not be used for personal service expenditures.
Local government units are instructed to continue imposing taxes and collecting fees such as business permits, property tax, and rentals for local government facilities. The laws will come into effect 15 days following their publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
