SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 
~242 
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay 
'st'l1ntr 
(iIllf,;, "f lit> ~rn:,br~ 
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MAY 26 P5 :54 
AN ACT EXPANDING THE LIST OF PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES IN PROTECTED 
AREAS, INCREASING THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND 
AMENDING FOR THESE PURPOSES REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7586, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS ACT OF 1992 
(NIPAS ACT OF 1992) 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Notwithstanding the enactment ofthe NIP AS Act of 1992, the Philippines remains a hot bed 
of illegal wild life trade, among other destructive activities in its protected areas. Foreigners 
and Filipinos alike have been found harvesting helpless creatmes and critically endangered 
plants in protected areas. 
With the advent of establishment of power plants, and other critical infrastructure or facilities 
that pass through protected areas, it is expected that more and more of these will affect 
protected areas. 
To keep up with these developments and to ensme that private entities observe the sanctity of 
protected al'eas, it is necessary to strengthen existing environmental laws on protected areas. 
For the above reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
S ANCYS.BINAY 
Senator 


'srrmir 
" 
. 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
(~H'<r tlf tI!, ~.".t.r~' 
OF THE I'HJLIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'14 
MAY 26 P 5 :54 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 
2242 
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Einay 
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AN ACT EXPANDING THE LIST OF PROHIBITED ACTIV[TIES IN PROTECTED 
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AREAS, INCREASING THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND 
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AMENDING FOR THESE PURPOSES REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7586, OTHERWISE 
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KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS ACT OF 1992 
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(NIP AS ACT OF 1992) 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 20 of the NIpAS Act of 1992 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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Section 20. Prohibited Acts. - Except as may be allowed by the nature of their 
categories and pursuant to rules and regulations governing the same, the following 
acts are prohibited within protected areas: 
a. 
Hunting, destroying, disturbing, or mere possession of any plants or animals 
or products derived therefrom without a permit from the Management Board; 
b. 
Dumping of any waste products detrimental to the protected area, or to the 
plants and animals or inhabitants therein; 
c. 
Use of any motorized equipment without a permit from the Management 
Board; 
d. 
Mutilating, defacing or destroying objects of natural beauty, or objects of 
interest to cultural communities (of scenic value); 
e. 
Damaging and leaving roads and trails in a damaged condition; 
f. 
Squalting, mineral locating, or otherwise occupying any land; 
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g. 
Constructing or maintaining any kind of structure, fence or enclosures, 
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conducting any business enterprise without a permit; 
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h. 
Leaving in exposed or unsanitary conditions refuse or debris, or depositing in 
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ground or in bodies of water; [and] 
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Altering, removing destroying or defacing boundary marks or signs [.j; AND 


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j. 
INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL DUMPING OF ANY TOXIC AND 
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AS DEFINED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT 6969; 
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SECTION 2. Section 21 of the NIPAS Act is hereby amended as follows: 
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Section 21. Penalties. - Whoever violates this Act or any rules and regulations issued 
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by the Department pursuant to this Act or whoever is found guilty by a competent 
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court of justice of any of the offenses in the preceding section shall be fined in the 
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amount of not less than [Five thousand pesos (PS,OOO)] ONE MILLION PESOS 
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(Pl,OOO,OOO.OO) nor more than [Five hundred thousand pesos (PSOO,OOO)] FIVE 
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MILLION PESOS (PS,OOO,OOO), exclusive of the value of the thing damaged or 
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imprisonment for not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, or both, 
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as determined by the court: Provided, that, if the area requires rehabilitation or 
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restoration as determined by the court, the oiIender shall be required to FULLY 
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restore or compensate for the restoration to the damages: Provided, further, that court 
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shall order the eviction of the offender from the land and the forfeiture in favor of the 
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Government of all minerals, timber or any species collected or removed including all 
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equipment, devices and firearms used in cOlmection therewith, and any construction 
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or improvement made thereon by the offender. If the offender is an association or 
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corporation, the president or manager shall be directly responsible for the act of his 
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employees and laborers: Provided, finally, that the DENR may impose administrative 
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fines and penalties consistent with this Act. 
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SECTION 20 (A) SHALL BE REGARDED AS A CONTINUING CRIME, SUCH 
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THAT ANY PERSON, CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP OR ASSOCIATION 
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FOUND IN POSSESSION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS HARVESTED FROM 
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PROTECTED AREAS WITHOUT LEGAL PERMIT/AUTHORITY, MAY BE 
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ARRESTED WITHOUT WARRANT UPON INTERDICTION IN ANY PART OF 
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THE PHILIPPINES. 
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Section 22. Separability Clause. If any part or section of this Act is declared unconstitutional, 
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such declaration shall not affect the other parts or sections of this Act. 
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Section 23. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and 
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regulations inconsistent with any provisions of this Act shall be deemed repealed or modified 
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accordingly. 
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Section 24. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
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publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,