Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7501

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ

AN ACT
DECLARING THE PANTARON MOUNTAIN RANGE AS A
PROTECTED AREA CATEGORIZED AS A NATIONAL PARK AND
WATERSHED, AND PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT AND
ADMINISTRATION

EXPLANATORY NOTE:

The Pantaron Mountain Range is home to one of the few remaining
“old growth” primary forest areas not only in Mindanao but in the entire
country. Major rivers and primary water sources in Mindanao have their
headwaters in the mountain range, contributing to the consistent stream
of fresh water in the Mindanao region

Further, it serves as habitat to a vast range of flora and fauna
including some rare and endemic species such as the critically
endangered Philippine Eagle, the Philippine Brown Deer, the Philippine
Flying Lemur, and the Mindanao-endemic Gymnure.

The rich biodiversity and abundant water supply of the Pantaron
Mountain Range gives us compelling reason to ensure its protection and
preservation as a National Park and Watershed Reservation. No less than
the Philippine Constitution mandates the protection of nature and
ecology through Article II, Section 16 expressly stating that: The State shall
protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.


Through this measure, the entire area encompassing Pantaron
Mountain Range will be protected from threats of abuse and destruction
and at the same time provide for sustainable development in the area for
generations to come.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5
House BILLNo, "°°!

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ

AN ACT
DECLARING THE PANTARON MOUNTAIN RANGE AS A
PROTECTED AREA CATEGORIZED AS A NATIONAL PARK AND
WATERSHED, AND PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT AND
ADMINISTRATION

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as and cited as “Pantaron
Mountain Range National Park Act”

SEC. 2. Land Categorization Under the 1987 Constitution. - All lands
comprising the Pantaron Mountain Range shall fall under the category of
National Park and Watershed Reservation under Article 12 Section 4 of
the 1987 Constitution, to be known as the Pantaron Range National Park
and Watershed.

SEC. 3. Land Categorization Under Republic Act No. 11038 otherwise known
as the “Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018”. -
All lands comprising the Pantaron Mountain Range shall fall under the
category of Natural Park and Protected Area under Section 3 of RA 11038.

SEC. 4. Scope and Coverage. - The entire Pantaron Mountain Range is
hereby declared as National Park and Watershed Reservation.

The technical boundaries and area description of the Pantaron
Mountain Range shall be subjected to actual ground survey and
verification to be conducted by the Department of Environment and

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Natural Resources (DENR) within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of
this Act. Any modification of the coverage of this Act due to such factors
as changing ecological situations, new scientific or archaeological
findings, or discovery of traditional boundaries not previously taken into
account shall be made through an act of Congress, after consultation with
the affected public and concerned government agencies.

SEC. 5. Management of National Park and Watershed Reservations. - The
Pantaron Range National Park and Watershed shall be under the joint
administrative jurisdiction, supervision, and control of the DENR and the
provincial government of all covered areas and shall be managed in
accordance with the 1987 Constitution and RA 11038.

SEC. 6. Ancestral Lands and Domain. - The rights of indigenous cultural
communities/ indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) to their ancestral domains
shall be fully recognized subject to Section 56 of the Republic Act No.
8371, otherwise known as the “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997
(IPRA)”. Traditional property regimes exercised by indigenous cultural
communities in accordance with their customary laws shall govern the
relationships of all individuals within their communities with respect to
all lands and resources found within ancestral lands.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The Secretary of the DENR shall immediately
include in the Department's program the implementation of this Act and
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any of the sections or provision of this Act
is held invalid, all other provision not affected thereby shall remain valid.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, resolutions,
instructions, and rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby deemed repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved.

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