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

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 2123

Introduced by: Honorable GEORGE P. ARNAIZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The protection and preservation of the country’s natural
resources is one of the states’ primordial concerns. Many laws are
already passed by Congress to be able to address the same issue.
An indispensable requisite to make these things operational are the
availability of sufficient budget and the system for utilizing it. One of
the laws that cater to this is Republic Act No. 7586 otherwise known
as the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act. This law is
basically enacted in order to secure 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.

Provisions relative to funding for the development and
management of the protected areas are incorporated in the law, but
the existing system for the disbursement and utilization of accounts
and funds of the protected areas is not well crafted to address the
need for the operation of the law. In the present, an Integrated
Protected Areas Fund (IPAF) is in existence by virtue of the law.
This is created for the purpose of financing projects of the National
Integrated Protected Areas System. For this reason, the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law created an
IPAF Governing Board that shall administer the fund.

As the law so provides, all incomes generated form the
operation of the System shall accrue to the fund. Though the IRR
Provides for the retention by PAMB of the seventy five percent
(75%) of the revenue generated, such retention is only made for
certain purposes, but the actual funds are still remitted to the IPAF


Governing Board at DENR Central Office. To be able to withdraw
funds there from, the PAMB shall first make a request to the IPAF
Governing Board. The whole process from the request up to the
withdrawal takes long months of waiting which makes it difficult for
the PAMB to work as scheduled due to at hand unavailability of
funds.

It is of the view of this representation that if a portion of the
revenue generated will be actually retained to every protected area,
it is more feasible to manage and develop these natural parks.

In view of the circumstances, presented, it is of the necessity
to overhaul the system of how funds are utilized and administered
for the development and management of each proteet€d grea in the
country.

GE P. ARNAIZ
Representative
2" District, Oriental Negros


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

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2123
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by : Honorable GEORGE P. ARNAIZ

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 16 OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 7586
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED
PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM ACT OF 1992

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

SECTION 1. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise
known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System
Act of 1992 is hereby amended as follows:

SEC. 16. Integrated Protected Areas Fund.- There is
hereby established a trust to be known as integrated Protected
Areas [(IPAS)] Fund (IPAF) for purposed of financing projects of the
System. The [IPAS] IPAF may solicit and receive donations,
endowments, and grants in the form of contributions, and such
other taxes, charges or fees imposed by the Government or any
political subdivision or instrumentality thereof.

All incomes generated from the operation of the System or
management of wild flora and fauna shall accrue to the Fund
SUBJECT TO THE RETENTION BY THE BOARD OF EACH PROTECTED
AREA, OF SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT (75%) OF ALL THE REVENUE
RAISED THEREFROM [ and may be utilized directly by the
DENR for the above purpose]. These incomes shall be derived
rom:

(a) Taxes from the permitted sale and export of flora and
fauna and other resources from protected areas;


(b) Proceeds from lease of multiple-use areas;

(c) Contributions from industries and facilities directly
benefiting from the protected area; and

(d) Such other fees and incomes derived from the operation
of the protected area.

THE FUND INCLUDING ALL DONATIONS, GRANTS,
ENDOWMENTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND OTHER
CONTRIBUTIONS SHALL BE DEPOSITED IN ANY
GOVERNMENT BANK WITHIN THE LOCALITY WHERE EACH
PROTECTED AREA IS LOCATED: PROVIDED THAT IF THERE IS
NO GOVERNMENT BANK AVAILABLE IN THE LOCALITY, AN
ACCOUNT SHALL BE OPENED IN ANY GOVERNMENT BANK
NEAREST TO THE LOCALITY.

Disbursements from the Fund shall be made solely for the
protection, maintenance, administration, and management of the
System, and duly approved projects endorsed by the PAMBs, in the
amounts authorized by the DENR Regional Office IN ACCORDANCE
WITH EXISTING ACCOUNTING, BUDGETING AND AUDITING
RULES AND REGULATIONS: PROVIDED, THAT THE FUND
SHALL NOT BE USED TO COVER PERSONAL SERVICES
EXPENDITURES.

SECTION 2. Separability Clause — Of any part of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional such declaration shall not affect
the other parts of this Act.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause.- Section 16 of the Republic
Act No. 7586 and all laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent
herewith or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed
amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,