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Spare 18, AUG 2025

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3813

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan and
Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT

DISESTABLISHING THE LOPEZ WATERSHED FOREST RESERVE (LWFR) AS
INITIAL COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS
SYSTEM UNDER 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”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to disestablish or withdraw the Lopez Watershed Forest
Reserve (LWFR) as the initial component of the National Integrated Protected
Areas System.

The LWER was established under Presidential Proclamation No. 411 which
was later amended by Proclamation No. 566 on June 20, 1940. The 418-hectare
watershed encompasses portions of five (5) barangays within the municipalities
of Calauag, Guinayangan and Lopez namely, barangays Yaganak, San Roque,
Dungawan Paalyunan and San Pedro 1 and Pisipis.

Since its inception, the 418-hectare LWFR was beset by the problem of the
change in land use. Migrant farmers from the surrounding barangays and other
areas converged into the area to establish coconut plantations and plant
agricultural crops. With the absence of the Protected Area Superintendent (PASU)
and a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) for years, the entry of migrant
farmers into the watershed was unmitigated. By 2010, when the first PASA was
conducted, almost 77% of the total proclaimed area was dominated by agricultural
land use and built-up areas.

This brings about negative consequences on the ecological health of the
watershed, such as, decrease in biodiversity in terms of flora and fauna, and


susceptibility to natural hazards like flooding, soil erosion, and drying up of
natural springs, just to mention a few.

Thus, the results of the recent Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA)
are blatant proof of the devastation brought about by land conversion. Based on
the criteria set by BMB Technical Bulletin No. 2016-04, the LWFR garnered a net
average rating of 37%, failing to meet the qualifications and standards of a
protected area to be established under the ENIPAS.

In view thereof, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan Iris Marte D. ‘Montes

4th District, Quezon Kababaihan, Kabalikatan para sa Kapakanan
at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (4K) Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 38 13

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan and
Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT

DISESTABLISHING THE LOPEZ WATERSHED FOREST RESERVE (LWFR) AS
INITIAL COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS
SYSTEM UNDER 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 1. The Lopez Watershed Forest Reserve (LWFR), established
under Proclamation No. 566 in 1940, is hereby disestablished or withdrawn as
Protected Area.

SEC. 2. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall, in consultation
with the municipalities of Guinayangan, Lopez and Calauag, the provincial
government of Quezon, and concerned national government agencies, issue the
corresponding rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 3. All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, proclamations, executive
orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed of modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,