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

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 682

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
availabilty 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 Goveming 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 protected area in the
couniry.

RGE P. ARNAIZ
lepresentative
24 District, Oriental Negros


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

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

682

HOUSE BILLNO.

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 from:

(a) Toxes 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,