EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
1713
ISjS1' S’’1’’'-1'-'
uf tijr iSJi-crrtnry
20 JUL 22 P 2 :40
R£C;;:. : !'
d1-
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
DECLARING THE MOUNT ARAYAT IN THE PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA AS A 
PROTECTED AREA UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7586, AS AMENDED BY 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11038, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED 
NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM ACT OF 2018, 
PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPUNATORY NOTE
The Filipinos' right to a healthful ecology is well-enshrined in the 1987 
Philippine Constitution as Article II, Section 16 of which provides that "The State 
shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology 
in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature." In line with safeguarding a 
healthful ecology, the Constitution likewise states that" Congress shall, as soon as 
possible, determine by law the specific limits of forest lands and national parks, 
marking clearly their boundaries on the ground. Thereafter, such forest lands and 
national parks shall be conserved and may not be increased nor diminished, except 
by law."1
1 Article XII, Sec. 3,1987 Philippine Constitution


Pursuant to the said constitutional provisions, the National Integrated 
Protected Areas System (NIPAS) was established by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 
7586, as amended by RA No. 11038, otherwise known as the 'Expanded NIPAS Act 
of 2018'. Recognizing the exacting Impact of diverse human activities on all 
components of the natural environment, the NIPAS Act declared it 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 establishment of a 
comprehensive system of integrated protected areas within the classification of 
national park as provided for in the Constitution." The system shall encompass 
ecologically rich, unique and biologically important areas that are habitats of 
threatened species of plants and animals, biogeographic zones and related 
ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be designated 
as 'protected areas'.2
Presently, there are already 107 protected areas in the Philippines that have 
been so declared through legislation. And yet, based on the records and various 
suitability assessments by the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), there are still numerous 
sites in the country that have to be given 'protected area' status, by legislative 
action, in order to ensure its conservation. One of these sites is the Mount (Mt.) 
Arayat located In the Province of Pampanga.
Mt. Arayat, formerly known as "Bunduk Alaya" or "Eastern Mountain", is a 
fabled mountain that is situated within the municipalities of Arayat and Magalang in 
Pampanga.3 It has a height of 1,026 meters above sea level and is considered as 
an extinct stratovolcano, with its circular volcanic crater measuring 1.2 kilometers in 
diameter. Notable features of Mt. Arayat include natural habitats of endemic and 
endangered flora and fauna, important source of water for domestic and agricultural 
use of the surrounding communities, clear water cascading from Its waterfalls, 
impressive rock formations and its picturesque surroundings.4
2 Section 2, RA No. 7586, as amended by RA 11038
3 https://ecoexplorationsph.com/mount-arayat-national-park/
4 https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1767464/Pampanga/LocaI-News
2


Mt. Arayat is gifted with rich biodiversity. It is home to 49 species of trees, 
86 species of wild birds, 14 species of mammals, and 11 species of reptiles. 
Threatened species of trees, such as Kamagong gubat, Tindalo, Kupang and Bangkal 
and endangered species, such as Arayat Pitogo, Bitaog and Teak could be found at 
Mt. Arayat. The mountain is also home to the nearly threatened monkey species 
known as the Philippine macaque.5
However, Mt. Arayat is not without environmental challenges. Through time, 
its once lush greenery has been degraded. Charcoal making, illegal logging and 
other damaging human activities have taken a toil on the mountain's plant cover. 
And while there are ongoing reforestation efforts by communities and stakeholders, 
the efforts should be complemented by a resilient policy geared towards protection.
Bestowing protection by legislative action to Mt. Arayat is long overdue. 
Conservation efforts on Mt. Arayat date back to 1921 when it was established as a 
forest reserve. In 1933, Presidential Proclamation No. 594 declared Mt. Arayat as a 
national park, which was reinforced In 1937 by Proclamation No. 203. In 1994, Mt. 
Arayat National Park was declared as a tourist spot under RA 7690.
The attached bill seeks to institutionalize the declaration of Mt. Arayat as a 
protected landscape within the Expanded NIPAS Act, with the aim of preserving its 
ecological attributes while bringing sustainable ecotourism opportunities to the 
communities surrounding it.
As the Chairperson of the Senate Committee of Environment, Natural 
Resources and Climate Change, I am pleased to file this bill. It is a counterpart 
measure of House Bill No. 4420 authored by Hon. Aurelio "Dong" D. Gonzales Jr., 
the Representative of the 3rd District of Pampanga.
In view of the foregoing, I recommend the approval of this measure.
CYNTHIA A. VILLAI
Ibid.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No.
of «K ^rvirrfnrp
20 JUL 22 P 2 :40
RECl: .
f-'
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
DECLARING THE MOUNT ARAYAT IN THE PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA AS A 
PROTECTED AREA UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7586, AS AMENDED BY 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11038, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED 
NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM ACT OF 2018, 
PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mt. Arayat Protected
2 
Landscape Act of 2020 'C
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape, as a
4 
regular component of NIPAS by virtue of Presidential Proclamation Nos. 594 and
5 
203, dated June 27, 1933 and September 16, 1937, respectively, is hereby declared
6 
to be included in the list of established protected areas under Section 5 (a.l) of
7 
Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, categorized under
8 
ENIPAS as protected landscape, defined under Section 4 (ee) of the same law, as
9 
"an area of national significance which are characterized by the harmonious


1 
Interaction of man and land and water while providing opportunities for public
2 
enjoyment through recreation, tourism, and other economic activities."
3
4
5
7
8
Sec. 3. Scope and Coverage. - The boundaries of the Mt. Arayat Protected 
Landscape, which falls under the category of protected landscape within the 
Municipalities of Magalang and Arayat In the Province of Pampanga, are as follows:
Loti
Beginning at point marked "1" on Bureau of Forestry Map No. N.P. 3-1, which 
Is S71°36'E, 7,325.67 meters from M.B.M. No. 19, Magalang Cadastre No. 95,
9
thence
N 70° 00'W
615.27
meters to point 2;
10
thence
N 70° 03'W
661.60
meters to point 3;
11
thence
S 66° 25'W
525.08
meters to point 4;
12
thence
S 75° Ol'W
698.62
meters to point 5;
13
thence
N 77° 48'W
1135.47
meters to point 6;
14
thence
N 88° 05'W
895.38
meters to point 7;
15
thence
N 40° 49'W
1000.79
meters to point 8;
16
thence
N 40° 49'W
870.52
meters to point 9;
17
thence
N 40° 06'W
781.24
meters to point 10;
18
thence
N 380 Ol'W
623.62
meters to point 11;
19
thence
N 420 44' E
264.00
meters to point 12;
20
thence
N 420 44' E
1274.00
meters to point 13;
21
thence
N 420 44' E
872.00
meters to point 14;
22
thence
N 420 44' E
1715.78
meters to point 15;
23
thence
N 070 44' E
1142.32
meters to point 16;
24
thence
N 750 03' E
141.89
meters to point 17;
25
thence
N 390 39' E
440.88
meters to point 18;
26
thence
N 760 20' E
613.77
meters to point 19;
27
thence
N 520 41' E
149.57
meters to point 20;
28
thence
S 650 29' E
1379.25
meters to point 21;
29
thence
S 660 48' E
946.18
meters to point 22;


1
thence
S 480 27' E
716.05
meters to point 23;
2
thence
S 420 11' E
432.91
meters to point 24;
3
thence
S 230 04' E
1280.82
meters to point 25;
4
thence
S 210 10'E
538.18
meters to point 26;
5
thence
S 260 52' E
330.97
meters to point 27;
6
thence
S 860 56' w
865.56
meters to point 28;
7
thence
S 020 53'w
854.84
meters to point 29;
8
thence
S 730 00' E
242.85
meters to point 30;
9
thence
S 240 59'W
1305.18
meters to point 31;
10
thence
S830 05'W
437.77
meters to point 32;
11
thence
S 090 42' E
416.39
meters to point 33;
12
thence
S 320 03' E
377.38
meters to point 34;
13
thence
S 020 04' E
565.66
meters to point 34-A;
14
thence
S 39° 09'W
49.84
meters to point 35;
15
thence
S 390 09'W
225.54
meters to point 36;
16
thence
S 60° 46'W
157.91
meters to point 37;
17
thence
SOlo 09'W
90.46
meters to point 1;
18
Corners 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25,!26, 27, 28, 29, and 32 1
19 
concrete monuments B.F. 20 by 20/30 by 30 by 100 centimeters;
20 
Corners 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 21, 23, 30, 31, 33, and 34 are
21 
F.R. concrete monuments E.F. 15 by 15/20 by 20 by 60 centimeters;
22 
Corner 15 is M.B.M. No. 18;
23 
Corners 35 and 37 are intersection points; and
24 
Corners 34-A and 36 are P.L.S, concrete monuments, 15 by 15 by 60
25 
centimeters.
26 
Lot 2
27 
Beginning at point marked "1" on the Bureau of Forestry Map No. N.P. 3-1
28 
which is S72° 32'E, 7,144.67 meters from M.B.M. No. 19, Magaiang Cadastre No. 95,
29 
thence N 39 09' E 
225.54 meters to point 2;
3


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26 
27
thence
thence
SOI 03'W 
N 60 46'W
252.08 meters to point 3; 
157.91 meters to point 1;
Corner 1 is a P.L.S. concrete monument, 15 by 15 by 60 centimeters; and
Corners 2 and 3 are intersection points;
the point of beginning containing a totai area of three thousand seven hundred 
fifteen and 23/100 (3,715.23) hectares, more or iess, subject to ground survey and 
verification to be conducted by the Department of Environment and Naturai 
Resources, through the Nationai Mapping and Resource Information Authority 
(NAMRIA), within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.
The Department of Environment and Naturai Resources (DENR) shaii 
appropriateiy mark on the ground the technicai descriptions provided in this Act with 
clearly visible markers and shall prepare appropriate maps therefor. Any modification 
of the coverage of this Act due to such factors as changing ecological situations, new 
scientific or archeological findings, or discovery of traditional boundaries not 
previously taken into account shall be made through an act of Congress, after 
consultation with the affected public and concerned government agencies.
Sec. 4. Buffer Zone. - The DENR Secretary, upon the recommendation of the 
Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), may designate areas surrounding the 
Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape as buffer zones for the purpose of providing 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.
Sec. 5. Management and Institutional Mechanisms. - The Mt. Arayat 
Protected Landscape as a protected area shall be managed in accordance with 
Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, under the 
supervision of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). A Protected Area


.• c*
1 
Management Office (PAMO) shall be established and headed by the Protected Area
2 
Superintendent (PASu) in conformity with Section 11 of the same law, as amended.
3 
Sec. 6. Promulgation of Rules and Regulations. - The DENR, in consultation
4 
with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary
5 
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
6 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The Secretary of the DENR shall immediately include
7 
In the Department's Program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which
8 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
9 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act Is declared
10 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall
11 
continue to be In full force and effect.
12 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
13 
regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are
14 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
15 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
16 
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general
17 
circulation.
Approved,