Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS e
First Regular Session ~

1724

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative EVELYN P. MELLANA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Agusan Marsh is a vast complex of freshwater marshes and watercourses with
numerous small shallow lakes and ponds and is home to hundreds of species of flora and
fauna, some of which are endemic and some of which are included in the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened, endangered and
critically endangered species. It also boasts of peat swamps, sago forests, and the very
large areas of swamp forests in the Marsh are not found anywhere else in the country.
Moreover, the Marsh is recognized as a crucial link in the migratory routing of birds between
Siberia and Australia. The biodiversity and natural beauty and uniqueness of the Marsh
compel its preservation and conservation and at the same time, give it a high potential for
recreational and eco-educational activities.

The Agusan Marsh is also home to a significant population of Indigenous Peoples,
majority of whom are Manobos, who make a living on the resources of the Marsh.

The Agusan Marsh serves as a flood retention basin that cuts peak discharge of flash
floods to downstream areas. It also acts as a natural sediment catch basin during flood
season.

Recognizing its ecological significance, the Agusan Marsh was declared in 1996 by
virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 913 as a protected area under the National
Integrated Protected Areas System and is among integrated priority conservation areas in
Mindanao, recognized under the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priority-Setting
Program (PBCPP). Found to be of international significance, the Agusan Marsh was
recognized as a “Wetland of International Importance” in 1999 under the Ramsar
Convention on Wetlands, as the most important freshwater wetland in the country.

However, these vital and unique qualities of the Marsh are being threatened by the
encroachment of human activities into the Marsh, such as mining, aari-chemical run-off,
domestic waste and population increase. Moreover, the core protected area of
approximately 14,836 hectares declared under Presidential Proclamation No. 913 does not
cover the actual extent of the wetland; thus, this bill expands the protected area to
approximately 40,943 hectares.

Taking into account the ecological, hydrological, social and economic significance of
the Marsh, it is imperative that we do our utmost to ensure its protection and at the same
time, develop its eco-tourism potentials.


The provisions of this bill are the same as the subsituted bill prepared by the House
Committee on Natural Resources. This version has been approved on third and final reading
during the 15" Congress.

In view of the foregoing considerations, the immediate enactment of this bill is
earnestly sought.



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1724

Introduced by Representative EVELYN P. MELLANA

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE AGUSAN MARSH SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES
OF TALACOGON, SAN FRANCISCO, ROSARIO, BUNWAN, LORETO AND LA PAZ IN
‘THE PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL SUR AS PROTECTED AREA UNDER THE
(CATEGORY OF WILDLIFE SANCTUARY PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be in enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in the
Congress assembled:

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known and cited as the “Agusan Marsh Wildlife
‘Sanctuary (AMWS) Act.”

Section 2. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
defined:

(a) "Ancestral domains/ancestral lands” shall refer to all areas generally belonging to
indigenous cultural communities comprising lands, inland waters and natural
resources therein, held under a claim of ownership, occupied or possessed by
indigenous cultural communities, by themselves or through their ancestors,
communally or individually since time immemorial, continuously to the present
except when interrupted by war, force majeure or displacement by force, deceit,
stealth or as a consequence of government projects or any other voluntary
dealings entered into by government and private individuals or corporations, and
which are necessary to ensure their economic, social and cultural welfare. It shall
include ancestral lands, forests, pasture, residential, agricultural and other lands
individually owned whether alienable and disposable or otherwise, hunting
grounds, burial grounds, worship areas, bodies of water, mineral and other natural
resources, and lands which may no longer be exclusively occupied by indigenous
cultural communities but from which they traditionally had access to for their
subsistence and traditional activities, particularly the home ranges of indigenous
cultural communities who are still nomadic and/or shifting cultivators;

‘Agusan Maas WiLDLiFe SANCTUARY | 2.


(b) “Biodiversity” shall refer to the variety and variability among all living organisms and
the ecological complex in which they occur;

(©) “Conservation” shall refer to preservation and sustainable utilization of wildlife,
and/or maintenance, restoration and enhancement of the habitat. It also refers to
the optimum use and management of natural resources in order to meet the needs
and aspirations of the present and the future;

(d) "Ecosystem” shall refer to dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism
‘communities and their physical environment interacting as a functional unit;

(e) "Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous People (ICCs/IPs)” shall refer to
the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous People as defined in RA 8371 or
the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA), specifically the Manobo who
reside within or are substantially dependent on the protected area;

(f) "IRR“refers to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the NIPAS Act, issued by
the DENR under Department Administrative Order No. 25, Series of 1992, as
amended from time to time;

(g) "Management Plan” shall refer to the fundamental plan, strategy and/or scheme
which shall guide alll activities relating to the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in
order to attain the objectives of this Act;

(h) "Multiple-Use Zone” shall refer to an area where settlement, traditional and/or
sustainable land use, including agriculture, agro-forestry, extraction activities and
other income generating or livelihood activities, may be allowed to the extent
prescribed in the Integrated Protected Area/ Protected Area Management Plan;

(i) "National Park” shall refer to the land of the public domain classified as such in the
1987 Constitution which includes all areas under the National Integrated Protected
‘Areas System (NIPAS) pursuant to the NIPAS Act primarily designated for the
conservation of native plants and animals, their associated habitats and cultural
diversity;

() "Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)” shall refer to non-stock, non-profit
organizations with qualifications, expertise and objectivity in activities concerning
‘community organizing and development, or resource and environmental
conservation, management and protection related to the protected area;

(CHAPTER 2
PROTECTED AREA

Section 3. Establishment of the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. The Agusan
Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS), as defined in Section 5, is hereby declared as a protected
area under the National Intergrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act. All lands of the
public domain comprising the AMWS shall fall under the classification of National Park as
provided for in the Philippine Constitution.

Section 4. Application of the NIPAS Act. This Act shall be implemented in conjunction

with and in conformity with the provisions of the NIPAS Act, unless otherwise provided.
Save for the provisions which are specifically incorporated herein by reference, the

AcusAN Mansi Witpuire SancTuaay | 2


provisions of the NIPAS Act as well as the definitions of terms found therein, insofar as they
are applicable, shall apply in a supplementary character to the provisions of this Act.

Section 5. Scope and Coverage. The AMWS is located in the Municipalities of Talacogon,
San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Loreto, and La Paz, all in the Province of Agusan del Sur,
and covers a total area of Forty Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-two and 0.82 (40,932.82)
hectares, more particularly described as follows:

Beginning at a point marked “1” on the Map, being N 72°56'11°W, 8,827.51 meters from
BLLM 1 of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur (BLLM 1 Lat 8°27'25.087" Long 125°47'1.367"),

Thence N 24° 57’ 19" W 593.82 meters to corner 2
Thence NO1° 15’ 29"E 611.12 meters to corner s}
Thence N 51° 40°09" E 346.13 meters to corner 4
Thence N 44° 42° 32"E 50.11 meters to corner 5
Thence S 76° 18' 04"E 399.89 meters to corner 6
Thence S 82° 54’ 08" E 880.23 meters to commer 7
Thence $ 23° 00' 56”E 1,467.61 meters to corner 8
Thence $ 22° 46° 11"E 3,099.57 meters to corner 9
Thence $81°31'51"E 1,922.01 meters to comer 10
Thence S$ 24° 16°55"E 1,481.29 meters to comer 1
Thence N 63° 32’ 46"E 7,486.12 meters to corner 12
Thence N 07° 42° 20" W 738.94 meters to corner 13
Thence N 60° 49’ 33” E 5,748.40 meters to corner 14
Thence $ 40° 47° 4" E 623.03 meters to corner 15
Thence $ 39° 23'27"E 311.59 meters to comer 16
Thence '$ 03° 37°35"E 241.73 meters to corner 17
Thence $55°51'21"E 588.95 meters to corner 18
Thence $ 29° 07" 12" W 677.21 meters to corner 19
Thence N 74° 22'04"E 262.68 meters to corner 20
Thence $ 12° 23'22"E 429.95 meters to corner 21
Thence '$ 39° 45°03” W 307.47 meters to corner 22
Thence S 62° 23°00" W 542.42 meters to corner 23
Thence $ 52° 07' 59" E 255.51 meters to corner 24
Thence S$ 81° 08’ 49" E 383.11 meters to corner 25
Thence S 24° 34 06"E 684.30 meters to corner 26
Thence S 26° 43 58" W 282.35 meters to corner 27
Thence $ 39° 05’ 18"E 402.40 meters to corner 28
Thence N 47° 32'20°E 695.75 meters to corner 29
Thence N 73° 59’ 58" E 115.69 meters to corner 30
Thence N 50° 55’ 14"E 226.97 meters to corner 31
Thence $ 07° 02°01" E 423.43 meters to corner eyn
Thence $ 70° 04’ 51"E 417.33 meters to corner 33
Thence N 72° 18°29" E 164.79 meters to corner 34
Thence S$ 25° 36’ 26"E 176.33 meters to corner 35
Thence S 24° 4419" W 393.76 meters to corner 36
Thence S 24° 43°25" W 502.74 meters to corner 37
Thence 'S 08° 44’ 23” W 664.64 meters to corner 38
Thence $ 61° 12'°31"E 267.68 meters to corner 39
Thence N 38° 26’ 37” E 230.25 meters to corner 40

‘Agusan Maas Wi.puire Sanctuary | 3


Thence S 34° 30’ 56"E 183.03 meters to corner 41

Thence ‘S$ 25° 22’ 28" W 284.15 meters to corner 42
Thence N 56° 43°37" E 228.50 meters to corner 43
Thence N 86° 50’ 49" E 446.92 meters to corner 44
Thence '$ 03° 50’ 38” E 241.79 meters to comer 45
Thence S 45° 56’ 54” W 513.46 meters to corner 46
Thence N 88° 56’ 58” E 199.64 meters to corner 47
Thence $ 22° 27° 50” W 246.32 meters to corner 48
Thence N 87° 18°05"E 170.99 meters to corner 49
Thence S$ 40° 54’ 24" W 238.75 meters to corner 50
Thence S 46° 33'57"E 247.60 meters to corner 51
Thence $ 89° 34’ 21" W 116.65 meters to corner 52
Thence N 55° 27'52”W 275.75 meters to corner 53
Thence 'S 85° 38° 49" W 206.85 meters to corner 54
Thence N 26° 41’ 46" W 154.30 meters to corner 55
Thence S 36° 30’ 18" W 447.37 meters to corner 56
Thence S 17° 44’ 32" W 262.13 meters to corner 57
Thence N 78° 23’ 14" W 195.98 meters to corner 58
Thence S 42° 23' 57" W 394.10 meters to corner 59
Thence $ 02° 14 10"E 213.48 meters to corner 60
Thence $ 72° 40' 51" W 206.39 meters to corner 61
Thence N 27° 37’ 47" W 182.87 meters to corner 62
Thence '$ 80° 27°35" W 215.52 meters to corner 63
Thence N 24°23" 22” W 203.57 meters to corner 64
Thence N 44° 11’ 19" W 277.14 meters to corner 65
Thence N 65° 46’ 09” W 196.75 meters to corner 66
Thence S 05° 54’ 18” W 299.76 meters to corner 67
Thence N 87° 57’ 40” W 207.17 meters to corner 68
Thence 'S 36° 18°00" E 374.13 meters to corner 69
‘Thence N 79° 23’ 28" W 433.62 meters to corner 70
Thence $ 33° 46’ 57" W 317.51 meters to corner 71
Thence $ 33°55’ 27"E 373.66 meters to corner 72
Thence S 87° 48’ 18" W 219.34 meters to corner 73
Thence $ 39° 21 14"E 186.15 meters to corner 74
Thence S 16° 12’ 20"W 115.52 meters to corner 75
Thence S$ 74° 58 49" W 136.68 meters to corner 76
‘Thence N 48° 36’ 26" W 166.00 meters to corner 77
Thence $ 15° 21'46"E 320.76 meters to corner 78
Thence $ 77° 56’ 06" W 377.96 meters to corner 79
Thence $ 20° 33’ 52”E 278.37 meters to corner 80
Thence N 66° 24’ 54” W 353.63 meters to corner 81
Thence S$ 06° 06 45”E 346.07 meters to corner 82
Thence S 66° 06 17" W 224.66 meters to corner 83
Thence S 37° 58’ 20" E 526.09 meters to corner 84
Thence N72? 54’ 31"E 408.48 meters to corner 85
Thence $ 11° 38’ 03" W 592.02 meters to corner 86
Thence $ 73° 30’ 05"E 1,782.78 meters to corner 87
Thence S$ 27° 56’ 38"E 766.18 meters to corner 88
Thence $ 63° 02 04"E 3,601.83 meters to corner 89
Thence S 33° 45’ 20” W 1,332.56 meters to corner 90
Thence S$ 75° 41' 58" W 1,246.62 meters to corner 91
Thence $ 27° 14’ 38"E 1,490.76 meters to corner 92

‘AGUSAN MARSH WILDUFE SANCTUARY | 4


Thence $ 20° 10’ 06"E 8,575.88 meters to corner 93

Thence $ 57° 15'15"W 5,086.65 meters to commer 94
Thence $ 40° 22°39" W 2,133.14 meters to corner 95
Thence $ 04° 12°54" W 1,748.13 meters to corner 96
Thence $ 05° 05’ 00" E 1,152.51 meters to corner 97
Thence S$ 75° 10’ 52” W 836.91 meters to comer 98
Thence $ 28° 21’ 46"E 364.76 meters to corner 99
Thence $ 02° 56° 41"E 798.65 meters to corner 100
Thence S$ 41° 41' 24"E 4,475.93 meters to corner 101
Thence 'S 86° 49° 25" W 2,599.33 meters to corner 102
Thence $ 03° 27'07"E 1,434.19 meters to corner 103
Thence $ 87° 29 44"E 2,799.81 meters to corner 104
Thence $67° 12'01"E 570.13 meters to corner 105
Thence $$ 63° 13’ 10" W 2,096.62 meters to corner 106
Thence $ 83° 02° 17" W 822.54 meters to corner 107
Thence N 60° 41’ 49” W 1,674.03 meters to corner 108
Thence N 35° 47 49" E 492.72 meters to corner 109
‘Thence N 11° 24’06" W 607.62 meters to corner 110
Thence N 79° 07 10” W 384.61 meters to corner 11
Thence 'S.03° 42' 43” W 366.21 meters to corner 112
Thence '$ 22° 49 24" W 880.68 meters to corner 113
Thence S 18° 14’ 33" W 755.78 meters to corner 114
Thence $§ 33° 5122" W 656.28 meters to corner 115
‘Thence S 62° 34’ 28"E 402.98 meters to corner 116
Thence S 13° 38 08" W 449.42 meters to corner 117
Thence 'S 36° 52’50” W 231.11 meters to corner 118
Thence S 85° 58’ 22” W 2,699.29 meters to corner 119
‘Thence N 61° 05’ 26"E 711.96 meters to corner 120
Thence N 33° 27’ 04"E 559.82 meters to corner 121
Thence N 22° 15’ 26" W 734.38 meters to corner 122
Thence N 08° 44 12"E 1,241.30 meters to corner 123
Thence N 05° 00’ 34"E 1,261.90 meters to corner 124
Thence N 86° 56’ 34” E 379.70 meters to corner 125
Thence N 01° 32’ 51" W 602.42 meters to corner 126
Thence N 10° 54’ 15"E 769.78 meters to corner 127
Thence N 10° 09’ 55” E 432.26 meters to corner 128
Thence N 16° 07’ 32” W 826.91 meters to corner 129
Thence $ 57° 22 40” W 1,526.21 meters to corner 130
Thence N 79° 04’ 35” W 624.28 meters to corner 131
Thence S 89° 35’ 23” W 294.72 meters to commer 132
Thence N 17° 54’07" W 1,305.56 meters to corner 133
Thence $ 89° 47’ 38"E 400.42 meters to corner 134
Thence N 56° 37’ 33" W 238.85 meters to corner 135
Thence N 30° 26°54” W 716.00 meters to corner 136
Thence N 03° 02’ 12" W 842.07 meters to corner 137
Thence N 17° 01'56"E 334.20 meters to corner 138
Thence N 31° 02’ 27" W 1,153.75 meters to corner 139
Thence N 72° 37’ 05” W 952.90 meters to corner 140
Thence N 00° 49’ 50” E 3,821.56 meters to corner 141
Thence N 77° 30’ 01" W 489.90 meters to corner 142
Thence N 34° 36’ 00" W 1,557.74 meters to corner 143
Thence N 34° 30’ 12"W 966.01 meters to corner 144

‘Agusan Mars WILDLIFE SANCTUARY | 5


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Thence
Thence
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Thence
Thence
Thence
Thence
Thence
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Thence
Thence
Thence
Thence
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Thence
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N 00° 27’ 00"E
N 68° 36’ 23” E
N 63° 31'12"E
N 76° 27’ 07" E
N 64° 22’ 24"E
N 02° 14’ 56" W
N 48° 36’ 53” W
'S 88° 44’ 24" W
'$ 50° 29’ 19" W
'$ 52° 40° 58” W
N 84° 05’ 20” W
N 58° 21’ 49” W
N 03° 02’ 37” W
N 42° 49’ 36" W
N 01° 36’ 42”E
N 03° 37’ 09" E
N 12° 54’ 32” W
N 10° 52’ 12" W
N 47° 47’ 34" E
N 08° 38’ 56” E
N 14° 55’ 30"E
N 11° 39’ 28” W
N 25° 54’ 43” W
N 30° 22’ 19” W
N 10° 53’ 24"E
N 50° 51’ 30” W
N 05° 08’ 50” W
N 15° 10°07" E
N 44° 21 38"E
$ 72° 17 48"E
N 72° 50’ 29" E
N 32° 56’ 01" W
N 49° 53°27" W
'S 88° 29’ 42" W
$ 61° 1230" W
'S 65° 00' 24" W
N 11° 31’ 16"E

796.99
1,833.01
2,120.72
1,242.26
1,918.00
1,275.69
1,282.25
1,296.80
2,720.45
1,319.43
1,879.28

494.26
2,038.66
3,048.01

625.72

361.82

376.31

450.20

491.24

315.06

245.46

417.53

453.71

425.48

792.26

360.17

492.98

578.00

335.18

711.93

291.27
3,007.37
1,062.80
1,607.25
1,667.17
2,550.35
6,490.25

meters to corner
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meters to corner
meters to corner
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meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
meters to corner
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The technical descriptions provided in this Act will be subject to ground survey and
verification to be conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.

Section 6. Establishment of the Protected Area Management Board for the
Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (PAMB-AMWS). The PAMB-AMWS is hereby
created. It shall exercise the same powers and functions as provided in Section 11 of the
NIPAS Act and Section 18 of the IRR of that Act.

Considering the character of AMWS as a catch basin, this section shall not preclude the
PAMB-AMWS from taking appropriate action outside the AMWS to prevent any adverse

‘AcusAN Mansi WILDLIFE SANCTUARY | 6


effects thereto such as, but not limited to, wastes from industries and run-offs from all areas
that feed into the AMWS.

Section 7. Composition of the PAMB-AMWS. Membership of the PAMB-AMWS shall
comprise the following:

(a) DENR Regional Executive Director (RED) of Region XIII ~ Caraga as Chairman;

(b) Provincial Governor of Agusan del Sur as Co-Chairman;

(©) Provincial Planning and Development Officer of the Provincial Government of
‘Agusan del Sur;

(d) Mayors of the Municipalities of Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan,
Loreto, and La Paz;

(€) One (1) representative from each tribal community residing within the AMWS;

(f) Three (3) representatives from non-government organizations/ local community
organizations.

The members shall be appointed in the same manner and shall serve for the same term as
provided in Section 11 of the NIPAS Act and Sections 20 and 21 of the IRR of that Act.

Section 8. Protected Area Superintendent (PAS) and other Protected Area
Personnel. There shall be appointed a PASu who shall be the chief operating DENR officer
on site and the chief administrative officer of the AMWS and who shall be directly
responsible to the PAMB-AMWS and the DENR-Caraga RED, in accordance with Section 38 of
the IRR of the NIPAS Act. The PASu shall perform the administrative functions detailed
therein and shall be supported by a sufficient number of personnel who shall be performing
the day-to-day management, protection and administration of the AMWS, in accordance
with Section 40 of the IRR.

Section 9. Management Manual. There shall be formulated a Management Manual, in
accordance with Section 9 of the NIPAS Act, which shall serve as the basic long-term
framework plan in the management of the AMWS. It shall include, among other, the
Management Plan and the division of the area into various management zones.

CHAPTER 3
Funding, Penal, and Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 10. 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 Genera Appropriations Act.

Section 11. AMWS Fund. There is hereby established a trust fund to be known as the
‘Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) Fund for purposes of financing projects in the
area, which shall be deposited in a Special Account in the National Treasury. The Fund may
be financed by donations, endowments, and grants in the form of contributions, and such

‘AGUSAN MARSH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY | 7


endowments shall be exempted from income or gift taxes and all other taxes, charges or
fees imposed by the Government or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof.

All income generated from the operation of the AMWS or management of its wild
flora and fauna shall accrue to the Fund. ‘These incomes shall be derived from
visitors/tourist fees, fees from permitted sale and export of flora and fauna and other
resources from the AMWS, proceeds from registration and lease of multiple-use areas,
including tourism concessions, contributions from industries and facilities directly benefitting
from the AMWS and such other fees and income derived from its operation.

Disbursements from the Fund shall be made solely for the protection, maintenance,
administration and management of the AMWS, and duly approved projects endorsed by the
PAMB-AMWS and the AMETO, in accordance with existing accounting and budgeting rules
and regulations, Provided, that the Fund shall not be used to cover personal services
expenditures.

The local government units (LGUs) shall continue to impose and collect all other fees
not enumerated herein which they have traditionally collected, such as business permits and
rentals of LGUs' facilities. LGUs may also charge reasonable add-ons to fees imposed by
the PAMB-AMWS, provided, that such add-ons shall be determined based on the
contribution of the LGUs in the maintenance and protection of the AMWS.

Section 12. Tax Exemption on Donation. Any donation or bequest made to the AMWS
Fund shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable
deduction from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the
National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Section 13. Role of Local Government Units. The LGUs participate in the management
of the AMWS through representation in the PAMB-AMWS. They shall also ensure the
effective implementation of the Management Manual and the provisions of this Act in their
respective jurisdictions. The LGUs shall retain their ordinance-making powers in their
respective jurisdictions in the AMWS but must defer to the Management Manual and the
rules and regulations of the PAMB-AMWS on matters relating to biodiversity conservation,
protection and sustainable development.

Section 14. Role of Local Communities. The local communities as well as the
indigenous communities to be affected by the development of the AMWS shall actively
participate in the formulation of the Management Manual and the Eco-Tourism Development
Master Plan and shall be accorded preferential treatment with respect to employment
opportunities developed in the AMWS.

Section 15. Indigenous People’s Rights. Ancestral domain and other customary rights
and interests of indigenous communities within the AMWS shall be accorded due recognition
in accordance with Section 13 of the NIPAS Act.

Section 16. Prohibited Acts and Penalties. The provisions of Sections 20 and 21 of the

NIPAS Act with respect to prohibited acts and penalties for their violation in protected areas
shall apply in toto with respect to the AMWS.

‘Agusan Maas WiLbure SancruaRy | 8


CHAPTER 5
Concluding Provisions

Section 17. Repealing Clause. All |aws, decrees, proclamations, executive orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby modified or amended
accordingly.

Section 18, 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 19. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

‘Acusan Marsh WILDLIFE SancTUARY | 9