Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6297

HOUSE BILL Ni

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The State is fully Cognizant of the profound impact of man's activities on all
components of the natural environment particularly the effect of increasing
population, resource exploitation and industrial advancement and recognizing
the crilical importance of protecting and maintaining the natural biological and
physical diversities of the environment notably on areas with biologically unique
features fo sustain human life and development, as well as plant and animal life.

This House Bill seeks to established a more stiffer policy, which shall protect and
encompass outstandingly remarkable areas and biologically important public
lands thal are habitals of rare and endangered species of planls and animals,
bio-geographic zones and related ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or
marine, all of which shall be designated as “protected areas".

Thus, the eo of this bill is earnestly requested.

MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BL No, 6297
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Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero
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AN ACT

AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO.7586 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM ACT OF
1992", TO FOSTER A MORE HOLISTIC PLAN OF PRESERVING OUR
NATURAL HERITAGE, TO PROMOTE COOPERATION AMONG
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CONCERNED
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, TO ADOPT A MORE CONSISTENT POLICY
OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY - Ii 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 establishment of a comprehensive system of integrated
protected areas within the classification of national park as provided for in
the Constitution.


SECTION 2.

Section 21 of Republic Act No. 7586, is hereby amended to read as follows:

SECTION 21. Penaities - Whoever violates this Act or any rules and
regulations issued by the Department pursuant to this Act or whoever is
found guilty by a competent court of justice of any of the offenses in the
Preceding section shall be fined in the amount of not less than One
hundred thousand pesos (P 100,000.00) nor more than Five hundred
thousand pesos {P500,000.00), exclusive of the value of the thing
damaged or imprisonment for not less than two (2) years but not more
than six (6) years. or both, as determined by the court:

Provided, that, if the area fequires rehabilitation or restoration as
determined by the court, the offender shall be required to restore or
compensate for the restoration to the damages:

Provided. further, that court shall order the eviction of the offender from
the land and the forfeiture in favor of the Government of all minerals,
timber or any species collected or removed including all equipment,
devices and firearms used in connection therewith, and any construction
or improvement made thereon by the offender.

if the offender is an association or corporation, the president or manager
shall be directly responsible for the act of his employees and laborers:

Provided, finally, that the DENR may impose administrative fines and
Penalties consistent with this Act.

SECTION 3. TRANSITORY PROVISION — Existing industries. businesses
and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given six
(6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other


Period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this
Act.

SECTION 4. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. — The
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of
this Act shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.

SECTION 5. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
tules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. — If, for any reason, any section or
Provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or
provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 7. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. — This Act shall take effect after
fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes
earlier.

Approved,