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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8299

Introduced by Representative Josephine Y. Ramirez Sato

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The island of Mindoro is considered a biodiversity hotspot and an important
area of endemism, It is a biogeographical region that has social, economic, and
ecological importance, There are at least seven (7) Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) that
straddle the two provinces (Occidental and Oriental Mindoro) that serves as home to
many endemic flora and fauna species with national and global significance. This
include the Tamaraw (Bubaltis Mindorensis), the largest wildlife mammalian species
that can be only found in Mindoro.

At the start of 20!" century, the tamaraw population is estimated at 10,000. The
species was noted to roam the coastal lowlands to mountain peaks. However, the
outbreak of rinderpest (an infectious viral diseases of cattle) brought about by
widespread cattle ranching in 1930s caused the population of tamaraw to decline. In
1969, the population was estimated to be at 100, The International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) included tamaraw in the Red List of Threatened
Species and tagged as critically-endangered. The 2018 population count recorded 523
tamaraws are left in the wild. 'lo date, three subpopulations of tamaraw are known to
survive and are located in Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park (MIBNP), Mt. Calavite Wildlife
Sanctuary (MCWS), and Aruyan-Malati Tamaraw Reservation.

‘The population increase of tamaraw can be attributed to the efforts of dedicated
personnel of Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP), Formed in 1979 through
Executive Order No. 544, the TCP (under the DENR) serves as the country’s direct
response to the threats faced by the species, Despite meager resources and unstable
employment, the dedicated rangers of TCP strive to keep the tamaraws safe from
poachers and hunters, and patrolling the 2,500-hectare strict protection zone within
MIBNP.


We are facing great challenges to ensure that the tamaraw will not go extinct.
All stakeholders need to come together to ensure all are addressed. It is high time to
find lasting solutions to the perennial critical issues such as inadequate habitat
assessment, mapping of possible pests and diseases, lack of tamaraw specialists,
availability of biotechnology to help in tamaraw reproduction, lack of research
facilities, among others.

It should be noted that the concern on tamaraw is not limited to environment
and biodiversity. It is also socio-cultural concern. The interaction of wildlife and
human are deeply rooted in the culture of our indigenous people - the Mangyans.
The recent research also found that most of the remaining population are within
ancestral domains. ‘he Mangyans sustainably thrive and in harmony with nature and
the tamaraws.

In 2019, the local stakeholders in Mindoro created a technical working group
with members coming from various LGUs and academe who agreed to advance
cooperation in finding solutions to address the imminent threat of tamaraw’s
extinction. One of the targets of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
(PBSAP) — the country’s roadmap to biodiversity conservation - is that, “By 2028, the
conservation status of nationally and globally threatened species in the country from 2016
levels is maintained or improved.” This measure is a concrete contribution to help the
country meet its target for wildlife conservation.

We, the people of Mindoro, and our partners in conservation believed that the
only way for a sustainable future is to ensure our national, cultural, and natural
heritage will be passed on to future generations. The passage of this bill and the
institutionalization of the Tamaraw Conservation Program is a step in the right
direction.

The approval of this bill is urgently requested.

AMI

JOSEPHINE Y. ATO
Rey tative
Lone District of Occides indoro


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8299

Introduced by Representative Josephine Y, Ramirez Sato

AN ACT TO INSTITUTIONALIZE THE TAMARAW CONSERVATION
PROGRAM, CREATING ITS ADMINISTRATIVE AND IMPLEMENTATION
MECHANISM, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - ‘This Act shall be known as the “Tamaraw
Conservation Management Act.”

SEC. 2. Statement of Policy, It is the policy of the State to protect and advance
the right of the people to a balance and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm
and harmony of nature, It is also the policy of the State to conserve and protect the
country’s wildlife resources and its habitats, enhance biodiversity, and ensure
provision of ecosystem services.

Towards this end, the State shall institute measures with due regard to local
and national interest, Philippine commitments to international conventions, treaties
and agreements for the protection and conservation of biodiversity, and sustainable
utilization of wildlife resources.

SEC. 3. Creation of the Tamaraw Conservation Coordinating Council. - The
Tamaraw Conservation Coordinating Council (TC3), hereinafter referred to as the
Council, shall exercise the function of a governance, implementation and policy
direction body.

The Council shall be Chaired by the Secretary of Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, The Secretary can designate the Regional Executive Director


as his/her permanent representative. The Assistant Regional Director for Technical
Services will serve as Co-Chairperson.

The Chairperson shall designate the following as members of the Council
PENROs of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, CENRO’s of Sablayan and San Jose in
Occidental Mindoro, CENRO‘s of Roxas and Socorro in Oriental Mindoro, Protected
Area Superintendent of Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park (MIBNP) and Mt. Calavite
Wildlife Sanctuary (MWCS).

‘The Chairperson of the Council shall also invite representatives from the
following key stakeholders of Tamaraw Conservation, to form part of Tamaraw
Conservation Coordinating Council:

1) Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units of Occidental
and Oriental Mindoro or their duly authorized representative(s);

2) Members of the House of Representatives (of the Congressional
Districts in Mindoro) or their duly authorized representative(s);

3) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Occidental
Mindoro/ Oriental Mindoro provincial offices;

4) Indigenous Peoples (Buhid, Tau-Buid, raya, Bangon, and
Alangan tribes);

5) Atleast one (1) from the academe;

6) Not more than three (3) Non-Government Organizations
(NGOs);

7) Other stakeholder(s)

SEC. 4, Powers and Functions of the Tamaraw Conservation Coordinating
Council. - In order to successfully implement the provisions of this Act, the Council
is hereby vested with the following powers and functions:

1) Provide oversight function to the implementation of Tamaraw
Conservation Management and Action Plan (TCMAP) and
Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) activities;

2) Integration of TCMAP objectives and activities in the annual
work and financial plans of each agency’s represented in the TC3
(harmonization and synchronization of plans), and other
agency’s plans/ frameworks (e.g. CLUP, FLUP, PA Management
Plan);

3) Monitor and review implementation of TCMAP;

4) Provide administrative and political support to the
implementation of projects and interventions under the TCMAP;

5) Create thematic or site-based group(s), as needed;


6) Invite municipal and barangay LGUs in case of certain issues
affecting their areas of jurisdiction;

7) Engage with any department, bureau, office, agency or
instrumentality of the Government, and on private entities and
organizations for cooperation and assistance in the performance
of its functions;

8) Arrange, negotiate for, accept donations, grants, gifts, loans, and
other funding from domestic and foreign sources to carry out the
activities and purpose of the Council and TCP;

9) Recommend actions to concerned offices in case of pressing
issues and concerns;

10) Perform such other powers and functions as may be necessary in
carrying out its functions, powers, and the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 5. Tamaraw Conservation Technical Advisory Group. - The Tamaraw
Conservation Coordinating Council, through the Chairperson, may engage the
guidance and technical advice of the following offices/ institutions on matters and
concerns affecting Tamaraw conservation:

1) Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB);

2) Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA);

3) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asian
Wild Cattle Specialist Group (AWCSG); and

4) Other experts from the academe and conservation organizations.

SEC. 6. The Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP), - The Tamaraw
Conservation Program shall act as the implementing arm of the Council. The TCP
shall be recognized as the TCP Office (TCPO) and shall perform the following
functions:

1) Lead the formulation and implementation of TCMAP;

2) Prepare the Annual Work and Financial Plan (WEP) for the TCP

based on the priority activities in the TCMAP;

Assist in the mobilization of resources to augment government

resource financing of the TCMAP;

Develop activity proposals and project in pursuit of the strategies

of TCMAP;

5) Create Quick Response Team (QRT), composed of TCPO,
PAMO, LGU, and PNP, that will conduct law enforcement,
investigation, and population surveys;

3

4)


8)

2

9)

Recommend management interventions including policies and
guidelines needed to address/resolve pressing issues and
facilitate implementation of activities under the TCMAP;

Serve as Secretariat of TC3;

Initiate coordination mechanism and necessary arrangements
with the PAMB, through its PASu, for collaborative conservation
of Tamaraw populations within the protected areas and facilitate
integration of harmonization of TCMAP with the PAMPs of
concerned protected areas.

Manage the Tamaraw Gene Pool Farm/TCRC in coordination
with PAMO of Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural park (MIBNP);

10) Perform other duties that may be assigned by TC3.

SEC. 7. Organizational Structure of Tamaraw Conservation Program Office.
~ The TCPO will be under the supervision of the PENRO Occidental Mindoro
pursuant to DAO 2005-26. Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the
DENR MIMAROPA Regional Office, in coordination with the Biodiversity
Management Bureau, shall prepare the manpower requirements, including plantilla
positions for the TCPO for submission to the Department of Budget and Management.

SEC. 8. Establishment of Tamaraw Conservation and Research Center (TCRC).
- The TCRC is hereby established to provide science-based approach for the

conservation of the Tamaraw. The TCRC shall:

1) Serve a national conservation research center for the Tamaraw

3

(Bubalus mindorensis) on the area of Conservation Genetics,
Reproductive Sciences, Diseases Management etc.;

Promote conservation and research for the endemic species of
Mindoro Island;

Subsume the operation of the existing Tamaraw Gene Pool Farm
located in Sitio Canturoy, Barangay Manoot, Rizal, Occidental
Mindoro, within Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural park to pursue the
envisioned plan for an enhanced Tamaraw metapopulation
management across Mindoro.

The TCRC shall be one (1) of the components of TCP. As a sub-center for
biodiversity research, all research activities shall be coordinated with the
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) and BMB.

SEC. 9. Tamaraw Conservation in Protected Areas, ~ The concerned PAMBs
should actively manage Tamaraw populations within their respective protected areas
ensuring adequate measures and interventions for the conservation of species as


identified in the TCMAP. Furthermore, consider Tamaraw as among the priorities for
monitoring and as indicator for effective protected area management. The PAMB
through the PASu, shall maintain close collaboration with the TCPO staff in carrying
out Tamaraw conservation activities within the PA in accordance with the set
standards and guidelines.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within three (3) months from
the passage of this Act, the DENR shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for its effective implementation.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,