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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__8430

Introduced by:
Honorable DAVID C. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare the Lumbo Spring as a protected Watershed
Reserve located at the municipality of Dolores, Quezon Province.

The proposed protected watershed reserve in Dolores, Quezon is
extremely critical in ensuring the availability of water resources for the
province used for agricultute, industrial and commercial purposes. The
proposed watershed reserve is the primary source of potable drinking water
and irrigation for the farmlands of the inhabitants of Dolores, Quezon as well
as its neighboring municipalities in Quezon Province. It also serves as
sanctuary to a variety of species of flora and fauna.

The urgency to pass this bill is necessary to protect it from
indiscriminate exploitation and to be able to maintain ecological balance and
preserve a precious source of water supply for the inhabitants around it.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnest

DAVID “


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__°430

Introduced by:
Honorable DAVID C. SUAREZ

AN ACT DECLARING LUMBO SPRING LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF DOLORES, QUEZON PROVINCE AS A PROTECTED WATERSHED
RESERVE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Section 1. Title. —- This Act shall be known as the “Lumbo Spring
Watershed Reserve Act”.

Section 2. Land Classification. — All lands comprising the Watershed
Reserve (identified under this bill) shall fall under the classification of
Watershed Reserve as provided for in the 1987 Constitution and other laws.

Section 3. Scope and Coverage. The location of the proposed
watershed reserve is as follows:

14 deg 00’ 28” N
121 deg 22’ 00°E
The technical descriptions provided in this Act will be subject to actual

ground survey and verification to be conducted by the DENR within ninety (90)
days after the effectivity of this Act. Any modification of the coverage of this

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Act due to such factors as changing ecological situations, new scientific or
archaeological 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.

Section 4. Management of Water Reserves — The Watershed Reserve
shall be under thé joint administrative jurisdiction, supervision and contro! of
the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) and the Provincial Government
of Quezon Province and shall be managed in accordance with sustainable
development, without impairing its usefulness as source of water for domestic
use and other related purposes.

Section 5. Multi-Sectoral Watershed Management Council. - The DENR
in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Quezon Province shall
create a Multi-Sectoral Watershed Management Council to act as oversight
and policy making body over the watershed in accordance with existing laws,
rules and regulations.

The Management Council shall prepare an integrated watershed
management and development plan to include among others, intensive
restoration and rehabilitation, water quality monitoring and delineation of
buffer zone.

Section 6. Ancestral Lands and Domain. — The rights of indigenous
cultural communities/indigenous people (ICCs/Ips) to their ancestral domains
shall be fully recognized subject to Section 56 of the Republic Act No. 8371,
otherwise known as the “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997” or “IPRA”.
Traditional property regimes exercised by indigenous cultural communities in
accordance with their customary laws shall govern the relationships of all
individuals within their communities with respect to all lands and resources
found within ancestral lands.

Section 7. Tenured Migrants. — Tenured migrants shall be eligible to
become stewards of portions of lands within the designated buffer and
multiple-use zones. The Watershed Management Council of the Watershed
Reserve shall identify, verify and review all tenure instruments, land claims,
and issuance of permits for resource use within the protected area and
recommend the issuance of the appropriate tenure instrument consistent with
the land classification, proper and allowed use of resources found therein, and
zoning provided in the management or successor plans.

Section 8. Appropriations. — The Secretary of the DENR shall
immediately include in the Department's program the implementation of this
Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.


Section 9. Reporting Responsibility — The Multi-Sectoral Watershed
Management Council shall submit an annual accomplishment report to the
Secretary of the DENR on the activities undertaken in the Watershed
Reserves.

Section 10. Construction and Suppletory Application of Existing Laws. —
The provisions of this Act shall be construed liberally in favor of achieving
environmental protection and sustainable development. Provisions of
Presidential Decree 1067, otherwise known as the Water Code of the
Philippines, Presidential Decree 705, otherwise known as Revised Forestry
Code and existing forestry laws, and their corresponding rules and regulations
not inconsistent hereto shall have the suppletory effect in the implementation
of this Act.

Section 11. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any part or section
of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such other parts not affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, proclamations, rules
and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least 2
national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,