Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 10032
Introduced by: Hon.  Keith  Micah  ``Atty.  Mike"  D.L.  Tan
AN ACT
D]SESTABL]SHING  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  LWFR  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°/o  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.
Z7-
Keith Micah "Atfy. Mike" D.L. Tan
4th  District,  Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 10032
Introduced  by:  Hon.  Keith  Micah "Atty.  Mike" D.L Tan
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.  2.     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.  3.  This Act shall  take  effect fifteen  (15)  days  after  its  publication  in  the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,