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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session
■K-4- 8
of tlje ^ ;tpi,n-p
24 MAR 19 A8:24
SENATE
RECEIVlOBY;
S.B. No. 2616
(In substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 2204 and 2551, 
taking into consideration House Bill No. 8202)
Prepared by the Committees on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate 
Change; and Finance with Senators Villar (C.) and Villar (M.), as authors
AN ACT
DECLARING A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF 
POLANGUI AND OAS, AND CITIES OF LIGAO AND TABACO, IN THE 
PROVINCE OF ALBAY, A PROTECTED AREA WITH THE CATEGORY OF 
PROTECTED LANDSCAPE UNDER THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED 
AREAS SYSTEM (NIPAS), TO BE REFERRED TO AS THE MT. MASARAGA 
PROTECTED LANDSCAPE (MMPL), PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Title. — This Act shall be known and referred to as the "Mt. 
Masaraga Protected Landscape (MMPL) Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Cognizant of the profound impact of human
activity on all components of the natural environment, it is hereby declared the
policy of the State to secure for the Filipino people of present and future
generations, the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals through the
declaration of protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System
(NIPAS) within the classification of national park as provided for in the Constitution.
1


1 
In recognition of the richness of the biological resources, both flora and
2 
fauna, that are native and distinct to Mt. Masaraga, as weil as their aesthetic and
3 
ecological importance, a parcel of land of the public domain located in the
4 
Municipaiities of Oas and Polangui, and the Cities of Ligao and Tabaco in the
5 
Province of Albay is hereby declared a protected area under the category of
6 
protected landscape and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Mt. Masaraga
7 
Protected Landscape (MMPL). As such, the State shall ensure the conservation,
8 
protection, management, and rehabilitation of the area. It is likewise recognized that
9 
effective administration of this area is possible only through cooperation among the
10 
National Government, Local Government Units (LGUs), concerned Non-Governmental
11 
Organizations (NGOs), private entities, and local communities. The use and
12 
enjoyment of this area must be consistent with the principles of biological diversity
13 
and sustainable development.
14 
Towards this end, the State shall ensure the full implementation of this Act,
15 
the mobilization of resources for the institutional mechanisms herein established,
16 
and the full scientific and technical support needed for the conservation of
17 
biodiversity and the integrity of the ecosystems, and cultural and indigenous
18 
practices.
19 
Sec. 3. Classification as a National Park. — The MMPL is composed of a parcel
20 
of land of the public domain located in the Municipalities of Oas and Polangui, and
21 
the Cities of Ligao and Tabaco in the Province of Albay, the metes and bounds of
22 
which are described in Section 4 of this Act. All lands of the public domain within the
23 
coverage and scope of the MMPL shall fall under the classification of a national park
24 
as provided for in Article XII, Section 3 of the Constitution.
25 
Sec. 4. Scope and Coverage. — The boundaries of the MMPL are more
26 
particularly described as the area beginning at a point marked "1" on the map being
27 
S23042,25"E, 630.51 meters from PRS Control Monument "CBM-11" with geographic
28 
coordinates of 13018'41.12556" Latitude and 123035,47.39395" Longitude within the
29 
boundary of the Municipality of Oas and the Cities of Ligao and Tabaco, Province of
30 
Albay:


1
thence
S 83°05' 20" W
694.83
meters to corner
2 ;
2
thence
S 80o02' 58" W
604.82
meters to corner
3 ;
3
thence
S 76033' 05" W
494.31
meters to corner
4 ;
4
thence
N 59055' 53" W
229.45
meters to corner
5 ;
5
thence
N 76°25' 46" W
311.79
meters to corner
6 ;
6
thence
N 53014' 02" W
238.61
meters to corner
7 ;
7
thence
N 28027' 37" W
479.32
meters to corner
8 ;
8
thence
N 14057' 31" E
267.00
meters to corner
9 ;
9
thence
N 64° 14' 48" W
217.54
meters to corner
10;
10
thence
N 34047' 21" W
227.78
meters to corner
11;
11
thence
N 44°04' 23" W
430.3
meters to corner
12;
12
thence
N 08°06' 56" E
550.97
meters to corner
13;
13
thence
N 42052' 44" E
319.77
meters to corner
14;
14
thence
N 28°4r 18" W
404.04
meters to corner
15;
15
thence
N 58°15'59" W
351.92
meters to corner
16;
16
thence
N 25°08,47" W
375.08
meters to corner
17;
17
thence
S 58°28' 59" E
621.38
meters to corner
18;
18
thence
N 32o05' 33" E
348.02
meters to corner
19;
19
thence
N 08o25' 37" E
272.8
meters to corner
20;
20
thence
N 45o00' 00" E
254.42
meters to corner
21;
21
thence
N 60°0r 13" E
292.49
meters to corner
22;
22
thence
S 46058' 53" E
548.43
meters to corner
23;
23
thence
S 40°4r 09" E
1717.30
meters to corner
24;


1
thence
N 53°14'00" E
223.03
meters to corner
25;
2
thence
S 47015' 53''E
1912.7
meters to corner
26;
3
thence
S 06°49'01" E
233.82
meters to corner
27;
4
thence
S 57057'45" W
847.69
meters to corner
1
5 
the point of beginning, containing an area of Eight Hundred Forty (840) Hectares,
6 
more or less. Bearings and distances of lines were derived using the PRS 1992
7 
Philippines Zone IV coordinate system, subject to ground delineation and
8 
demarcation.
9 
The certification from the National Mapping and Resource Information
10 
Authority (NAMRIA) containing the boundaries and technical descriptions of the
11 
MMPL is hereby adopted and made an integral part of this Act. In case of
12 
inconsistency, the boundaries and technical descriptions in the attached certification
13 
shall prevail.
14 
Any modification of the scope and coverage of the MMPL in this Act shall be
15 
made through an Act of Congress, after consultation with the government agencies
16 
and stakeholders concerned.
17 
Sec. 5. Establishment of Buffer Zones. — The Secretary of the Department
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of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), upon the recommendation of the
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Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) created under Section 6 of this Act, may
20 
designate areas surrounding the MMPL as buffer zones for the purpose of providing
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an extra layer of protection where restrictions may be applied: Provided, That in
22 
cases where the designated buffer zone would cover private lands, the owners
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thereof shall be required to design their development with due consideration to the
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protected area management plan.
25 
ARTICLE II
26 
MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS
27 
Sec. 6. Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). — Within ninety (90)
28 
days from the effectivity of this Act, a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB)
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shall be created to oversee the management of the MMPL. The PAMB shall be
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composed of the following:
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a) DENR Regional Executive Director for Region V, as Chairperson;
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b) Governor of the Province of Albay or a duly designated representative;
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c) Senators of the Republic of the Philippines who are duly registered residents
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of the Province of Albay, or their duly authorized representatives, unless the
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Senators decline the membership in the PAMB;
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d) District Representative of the Congressional District where the MMPL is
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located, or a duly designated representative, unless the District
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Representative declines the membership in the PAMB;
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e) Mayors of the Municipalities of Oas and Polangui, and the Cities of Ligao and
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Tabaco, in the Province of Albay or their duly designated representatives;
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f) 
Chairpersons of all the barangays \N\Xh territorial jurisdiction over the MMPL;
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g) Regional Directors of the following government agencies, namely:
15 
Department of Agriculture (DA), National Economic and Development
16 
Authority (NEDA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine
17 
National Police (PNP), Department of National Defense (DND), and
18 
Department of Tourism (DOT);
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h) Three (3) representatives from either NGOs or people's organizations (POs)
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based in the Province of Albay, duly accredited both by the DENR and the
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provincial government. The NGOs or POs represented should have been in
22 
existence for at least five (5) years and with a track record in or related to
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protected area management;
24 
i) 
At least one (1) but not more than three (3) representatives from all the
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indigenous cultural communities (ICCs)/indigenous peoples (IPs) present in
26 
the area and recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
27 
(NCIP);


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j) One (1) representative from an academic institution, preferably from a
2 
university or college in the Province of Albay, with a proven track record in
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or related to protected area management; and
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k) One (1) representative from the private sector, preferably a resident of the
5 
Province of Albay, who is distinguished in a profession or field of interest
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relevant to the management of a protected area.
7 
The terms of office of members of the PAMB, as well as the grounds for their
8 
removal shall be in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7586,
9 
otherwise known as the "National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of
10 
1992" as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the "Expanded
11 
National Integrated Protected Areas (ENIPAS) System Act of 2018".
12 
Sec. 7. Powers and Functions of the PAMB. — The PAMB shall have the
13 
following powers and functions:
14 
a) Oversee the management of the MMPL;
15 
b) Approve policies, plans and programs, proposals, agreements, and other
16 
related documents for the management of the MMPL;
17 
c) Approve the management plan of the MMPL and ensure its harmonization
18 
with and integration into the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and
19 
Protection Plan (ADSDPP), land use plan and other development plans,
20 
public or private, and their implementation;
21 
d) Adopt a manual of operations to include rules of procedures in the conduct
22 
of business, and the creation of committees and their respective terms of
23 
reference;
24 
e) Recommend the deputation of appropriate agencies and individuals for the
25 
enforcement of the laws, rules and regulations governing 
the management
26 
of the MMPL;
27 
f) Allocate financial resources for the implementation of the management plan
28 
and manage the Protected Area-Retention Income Account 
(PA-RIA) and


1 
other funds in accordance with government accounting, budgeting, and
2 
auditing rules and regulations;
3 
g) Set fees and charges in accordance with existing guidelines;
4 
h) Issue rules and regulations for the resolution of conflicts through appropriate
5 
and effective means;
6 
i) Recommend appropriate policy changes to the DENR and other government
7 
authorities with respect to the management of the MMPL;
8 
j) Monitor and assess the performance of the Protected Area Superintendent
9 
(PASu) and other protected area personnel and compliance of partners with
10 
the terms and conditions of any undertaking, contract or agreement relative
11 
to any project or activity within the MMPL;
12 
k) Recommend from among a shortlist of qualified candidates, the designation
13 
or appointment of the PASu; and
14 
I) Assess the effectiveness of the management of the MMPL: Provided, That
15 
the members of the PAMB representing the LGUs and national agencies shall
16 
inform their respective constituents, offices or sectors, of PAMB-approved or
17 
other relevant policies, rules, regulations, programs, and projects and shall
18 
ensure that the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations issued to
19 
implement it are complied with and used as reference and framework in
20 
their respective plans, policies, programs, and projects. Failure to comply
21 
with the foregoing shall be the basis for disciplinary action against such
22 
member according to administrative rules and regulations and such penalties
23 
as the PAMB may provide: Provided, further, That the DENR, through the
24 
Regional Director, shall ensure that the PAMB acts within the scope of its
25 
powers and functions. In case of conflict between the resolutions issued by
26 
the PAMB and the existing administrative orders of national application, the
27 
latter shall prevail.
28 
Sec. 8. The Protected Area Management Office (PAMO). — There is hereby
29 
established a Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) to be headed by a PASu
7


1 
who shall supervise the day-to-day management, protection, and administration of
2 
the MMPL. The PASu shall hold a permanent plantilla position and shall be appointed
3 
by the DENR Secretary. A sufficient number of support staff with permanent plantilla
4 
positions shall likewise be appointed by the DENR Secretary to assist the PASu in the
5 
management of the protected area.
6 
The PASu shall be primarily accountable to the PAMB and the DENR for the
7 
management and operations of the MMPL. Pursuant thereto, the PASu shall have the
8 
following duties and responsibilities:
9 
a) Prepare the management plan, in consultation with the stakeholders,
10 
including the annual work and financial plan, and ensure its
11 
implementation;
12 
b) Ensure the integration of relevant national and LGU plans and programs
13 
into MMPL management plans, programs, projects, and policies;
14 
c) Provide secretariat services to the PAMB and its committees and ensure
15 
the availability of relevant and timely information for decision-making;
16 
d) Formulate and recommend to the PAMB proposed policies, rules,
17 
regulations, and programs;
18 
e) Establish, operate, and maintain a database management system which
19 
shall be an important basis for decision-making;
20 
f) Enforce the laws, rules and regulations relevant to the MMPL, commence
21 
and institute administrative and legal actions in collaboration with other
22 
government agencies or organizations, and assist in the prosecution of
23 
offenses committed in violation of the provisions of this Act;
24 
g) 
Monitor, evaluate, and report the implementation of management
25 
activities of the MMPL;
26 
h) Request for and receive any technical assistance, support or advice from
27 
any agency or instrumentality of the government as well as academic


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j)
k)
institutions, NGOs, and the private sector, as may be necessary for the 
effective management, protection and administration of the MMPL;
Issue permits and clearances for activities that implement the 
management plan and other permitted activities in accordance with 
terms, conditions, and criteria established by the PAMB: Provided, That 
all permits for extraction of natural resources for research purposes, 
including the collection of wildlife and its by-products or derivatives, shall 
specify the acts to be authorized, and shall continue to be issued by 
relevant authorities, subject to prior clearance from the PAMB, through 
the PASu;
Collect and receive pertinent fees, charges, donations, and other income 
for the MMPL: Provided, That such fees, charges, donations, and other 
income collected and received shall be reported regularly to the PAMB 
and the DENR in accordance with existing guidelines;
Prepare and recommend to the PAMB, approval of the annual work and 
financial plans of the MMPL based on the management plan; and
I) Perform such other functions as the PAMB and the DENR may assign.
The PAMO may be augmented by the deputized local environment and 
natural resources officers upon the recommendation of the PAMB and approval of 
the DENR.
ARTICLE III 
PROCEEDS AND FEES
Sec. 9. The Mt Masaraga Protected Landscape Integrated Protected Area 
Fund. — There is hereby established a trust fund to be known as the Mt. Masaraga 
Protected Landscape Integrated Protected Area Fund (MMPL-IPAF) for purposes of 
financing projects of the MMPL and the NIPAS. All income generated from the 
operation and management of the MMPL shall accrue to the MMPL-IPAF. The income 
shall be derived from fees and charges from the use of resources and facilities of the


1 
MMPL, contributions from industries and facilities directly benefiting from the MMPL,
2 
and such other fees and income derived from the operation of the MMPL.
3 
The PAMB shall retain seventy-five percent (75%) of all revenues raised
4 
through the above means, which shall be deposited in the Protected Area-Retained
5 
Income Account (PA-RIA) in any authorized government depository bank within the
6 
locality: Provided, That disbursements out of such deposits shall be used solely for
7 
the protection, maintenance, administration, and management of the MMPL and
8 
implementation of duly approved projects of the PAMB. The remaining twenty-five
9 
percent (25%) of revenues shall be deposited as a special account in the General
10 
Fund of the National Treasury for purposes of financing the projects of the NIPAS.
11 
The fund may be augmented by grants, donations, and endowments from
12 
various sources, domestic or foreign: Provided, That the fund shall be deposited in
13 
full as a special account in the National Treasury and disbursements therefrom shall
14 
be made solely for the protection, maintenance, administration and management of
15 
the NIPAS and duly approved projects endorsed by the PAMB in accordance with
16 
existing accounting, budgeting and auditing, rules and regulations: Provided, further,
17 
That the fund shall not be used to cover personal services expenditures.
18 
The LCDs shall continue to impose and collect all other fees not enumerated
19 
herein which they have traditionally collected, such as business permits, property tax
20 
and rentals of LGUs' facilities.
21 
ARTICLE IV
22 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
23 
Sec. 10. Appropriations. — The Secretary of the DENR shall immediately
24 
include in the Department's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of
25 
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
26 
Sec. 11. Suppietory Appiication of the NIPAS Law. — The provisions of
27 
Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, shall have
28 
suppietory application to this Act.
10


1 
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days
2 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DENR shall, in consultation with
3 
the local governments of the Municipalities of Oas and Polangui, and the Cities of
4 
Ligao and Tabaco, the provincial government of Albay, and concerned national
5 
government agencies, issue the corresponding rules and regulations for the effective
6 
implementation of this Act.
7 
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act is held
8 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining sections or provisions not affected thereby
9 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.
10 
Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
11 
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of
12 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
13 
Sec. 15. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
14 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
11


^tSQUftCf
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
NATIONAL MAPPING AND RESOURCE INFORMATION AUTHORITY
www.namria.gov.ph
CERTIFICATION
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the technical description (TD) of Senate Bill 
No. 2204, also referred to as the “Mt. Masaraga Protected Landscape”, is correct 
in terms of general location and total area; and compliant with the standard 
bearing-distance format and PRS92 requirement. Further, its linear error of 
closure is within the allowable limit. The said TD is subject to ground 
delineation and demarcation.
This Certification is issued upon the request of the Senate Committee on 
Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Senate, Pasay City.
Use^ETORJll^T^NG^^,hD, CESO I
Administrator
NAMRIA OFFICES:
S Lavrton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, 1634 Taguig City, PH B(632) 8810-4831 to 41 
II421 Barraca St., San Nicolas, 1010 Manila, PH H(632) 8241-3494 to 98
o
ISO 9001:2015
CERTIFIED FOR MAPPING
UO tool.201}
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
INVESTORS IN PEOPLE"
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% Republic of the Philippines 
c; Department of Environment and Natural Resources
NATIONAL MAPPING AND RESOURCE INFORMATION AUTHORITY
www.namria.goy.ph
SENATE BILL NO. 2204
“An Act Declaring a Parcel of Land Located in the Municipalities ofPolangui and Oas, 
and Cities ofLigao and Tabaco, in the Province of Albay, a Protected Area with the 
Category of Protected Landscape Under the National Integrated Protected Area 
System, to be Referred to as the Mt. Masaraga Protected Landscape, Providing for Its 
Management, and Appropriating Funds Therefor”
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Beginning at a point marked "1" on the map being S 23°42'25" E, 630.51 
meters from PRS Control Monument “CBM-11” with geographic coordinates of
13°18'41.12556" Latitude and 123°35'47.39395" Longitude within the boundary 
of the Municipality of Oas and the Cities of Ligao and Tabaco, Province of Albay
thence
S 83o05' 20" W
694.83
meters to corner
2
thence
S 80°02' 58" W
604.82
meters to corner
3
thence
S 76°33' 05" W
494.31
meters to corner
4
thence
N 59°55' 53" W
229.45
meters to corner
5
thence
N 76°25' 46” W
311.79
meters to corner
6
thence
N 53° 14' 02” W
238.61
meters to corner
7
thence
N 28027' 37” W
479.32
meters to corner
8
thence
N 14057' 31” E
267
meters to corner
9
thence
N 64° 14' 48” W
217.54
meters to corner
10
thence
N 34°47' 21” W
227.78
meters to corner
11
thence
N 44°04' 23” W
430.3
meters to corner
12
thence
N 08o06' 56” E
550.97
meters to corner
13
thence
N 42052' 44” E
319.77
meters to corner
14
thence
N 28°4r 18” W
404.04
meters to corner
15
thence
N 58°15’59” W
351.92
meters to corner
16
thence
N 25°08'47” W
375.08
meters to corner
17
thence
S 58°28' 59” E
621.38
meters to corner
18
thence
N 32°05' 33” E
348.02
meters to corner
19
thence
N 08o25' 37” E
272.8
meters to corner
20
thence
N 45o00' 00” E
254.42
meters to corner
21
thence
N 60°01' 13” E
292.49
meters to corner
22
thence
S 46°58' 53” E
548.43
meters to corner
23
thence
S 40°4r 09” E
1717.3
meters to corner
24
thence
N 53°14’00” E
223.03
meters to corner
25
thence
S 47° 15' 53” E
1912.7
meters to corner
26
thence
S 06°49’01” E
233.82
meters to corner
27
thence
S 57°57’45” W
847.69
meters to corner
1
the point of beginning, containing an area of EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY (840) 
hectares, more or less. Bearings and Distances of lines were derived using the PRS 
1992 Philippines Zone IV coordinate system, subject to ground delineation and 
demarcation.
REVIEWED BY NAMRIA | Page 16 of 44