Introduced by Representative
LEODY "ODIE" F. TARRIELA
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is the State's policy to protect and advance the rigiv of the people
to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony
of nature.I  In this regard,  the protection  and  conservation  of country's
wildlife   resources   and    its    habitants    should   be   given   paramount
consideration.
This    bill    aims    to    promote    rcz7#arczw    rBcjbc}/"s    mz.77c7ore7®sz.sJ
conservation,  protection   and  sustainability   by   creating  the   Tamaraw
Conservation Coordinating Council which shall govern and provide poliey
direction on  rclrmcrrm4;  conservation,  oversee  the  implementation  of the
Tamaraw Conservation Management and Action Plan (TCMAP) and the
Tamaraw   Protection   Program   (TCP),   and   integrate   these   in   local
development  plans.  The  bill  further  mandates  the  Council  to  create  a
Tamaraw Conservation Technical Advisory Group to ensure science-based
intervention and decisions on the conservation of rormcmrws;  as well as
Tamaraw  Conservation  and  Research  Center  (TCRC)  to  serve  as  the
national  conservation  research  center  for  rcrmcrrc7ws  on  the  areas  of
conservation, genetics, reproductive sciences and disease management.
This version of the bill has already been approved by the House in
its third reading during the  18th Congress. In this respect, the immediate
consideration and passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
1 Art.1], Sec.  16,1987 Philippine Constitution.


\


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSH 0F RHPRESHNTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRE SS
First Regular Session
House Bil-lNo.   5538
INTRODUCED BY REPRESHNTATIVE
LEODY ``ODIE" F. TARRIELA
JEN ACT
IN STITUTINALI ZEN G              TIIE              TAMARAW
CONSERVATION     PROGRAM,     CREATING     ITS
ADM INISTRATI VH        AND        IMPLE MH NTA TI0N
MECHANISM, AND PROVISING FUNDS THEREOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Representatives Of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:
SECTION  1. Sfeorf rtrJc. - This Act shall be known as the  ''Z72e
Tamarow Conservation Management Act. "
SECTION 2. Dcc/¢r¢fi.on a/Po/i.cj7. -It is the policy of the State
to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced 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 wildlife resources.
SE:CTTOIN     3.     Creation     Of    the     Tamarow     Conservation
Coordc.#¢fl.Hg  Co##ci.4  -       The  Tamaraw  Conservation  Coordinating
Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby created and shall
be the body charged with the formulation of policies and management of
programs   pertaining  to   the   conservation   of  the   Tamaraw   r82jbcz/as
A417.#c7ore#sisJ and its current population in the country.
The  Secretary  of  the  Department  of  Environment  and  Natural
Resources  (DENR)  shall  serve  as  the  Chairperson  of the  Council.  The
DENR Regional Executive Director for Region IV-B may be designated as
the permanent representative  by the  DENR  Secretary and the Assistant
Regional   Director   for   Technical   Services   shall   serve   as   the   Vice-
Chailperson of the Council.
The Chairperson shall invite representatives from the following to
serve as members of the Council:
a)  One (1) each from the Provincial governments of Occidental
Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro;
b)  One (1) each from concerned municipal government offices;


c)  Members     of    the     House     of    Representatives     from
Congressional   Districts   of  the   provinces   of  Occidental
Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro;
d)  One (1) each from the National Commission on Indigenous
Peoples Offices in Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro;
e)  One  (1)  each  from the Indigenous  Peoples tribal  groups  of
Buhid, Tau-Buid, Iraya, Bangon, and Alangan;
f)   One (1) each from the academe in Occidental Mindoro and
Oriental Mindoro ;
g)  Three    (3)    locally-based    conservation    non-government
organizations (NGOs); and
h)  One (1) from the local Chamber of commerce.
SE:CTTOIN 4.   Powers and Functions Of the Council.   -For the
effective  implementation  of the  provisions  of this  Act,  the  Council  is
hereby vested with the following powers and functions:
a)  Oversee  the   implementation   of  the   Tamaraw   Conservation
Management  and  Action  Plan  (TCMAP)  and  the  Tamaraw
C onservation Program (TCP);
b)  Integrate  and  harmonize  TCMAP  objectives  and  activities  in
local  development  plans,  management  plans,  and  the  armual


work and financial plans of the offices and agencies represented
in the Council;
c)  Monitor and review the implementation of TCMAP;
d)  Provide administrative support to the implementation of projects
and interventions under the TCMAP;
e)  Create thematic or site-based groups, as needed;
I)  Coordinate   with  LGUs   for   issued   affecting  their  areas   of
jurisdiction;
g)  Coordinate       with       other       government       agencies       and
instrumentalities, the private sector and civic organizations  for
cooperation and assistance in performance of its functions;
h)  Arrange, negotiate for, accept donations, grants, gifts, loans, and
other funding from domestic and foreign sources to carry out the
activities and objectives of the TCP; and
i)   Perform such other functions as may be necessary in carrying out
the provisions of this Act.
SE:C"OIN 5.   Tamaraw Conservation Technical Advisory Group.
- To ensure science-based interventions and decisions on the conservation
of  Tamaraws,   the  Council,  through  the   Chairperson,   shall  create  a
Tamaraw  Conservation  Technical  Advisory  Group  to  be  composed  of
representatives from the following:


a)  Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB);
b)  Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau;
c)  Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA);
d)  International Union for Conservation of Nature Asian Wild
Cattle Specialist Group; and
e)  Other    experts    from    the    academe    and    conservation
organizations.
SECTroIN 6. The Tamaraw Conservation Program Oiffi iice. - The
Tamaraw Conservation Program Office (TCPO) is hereby created. It shall
act as the implementing arm of the Council and shall perform the following
functions:
a)  Lead the formulation and implementation of TCMAP;
b)  Prepare the Annual  Work and Financial Plan  for the  TCP
based on the priority activities in the TCMAP;
c)  Assist in the mobilization of resources to augment fmancing
of the TCRAP;
d)  Develop  project  proposals  and  activities  in  pursuit  of the
strategies of TCMAP;
e)  Create  a  Quick  Response  Team,  in  coordination  with  the
Protected  Area  Management  Office,  the  concerned  local
government units, and the Philippine National Police for the


conduct  of law  enforcement,  investigation,  and population
surveys;
I)  Recommend  management  interventions  including  policies
and  guidelines  to  address  or  resolve  pressing  issues  and
problems;
g)  Serve as secretariat of the Council;
h)  Initiate coordination mechanism and necessary arrangements
with  the  Protected  Area  Management  Board  through  its
PASu, for collaborative conservation of Tamaraw population
within  the  protected  area  and   facilitate   integration   and
harmonization of TCMAP with the management plan of the
concerned protected area;
i)   Manage  the  Tamaraw  Gene  Pool  Farm  located  in  Sitio
Canturoy, Barangay Manoot, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, in
coordination with the Protected Area Management Office of
Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park;
j)   Lead in the implementation of the TCP's Work and Financial
Plan   in   coordination   with   stakeholders,   such   as   local
governments,  the  Protected  Area  Management  Board  and
Protected Area Superintendents concerned;


k)  Prepare and submit quarterly and annual reports on Tamaraw
conservation  to  be  submitted  to  the  Secretary  of DENR
through the Regional Executive Director and the BMB; and
I)   Perform other duties as may be assigned to the Council.
S;E,C"OIN    7.    Organizational    Structure    Of   the    Tarmaraw
Co#servaf!.o#  ¢#d Rcscarch  Ce#fer.  -  The  TCPO  shall  be  under the
supervision of the DENR Region IV-B Office and shall be headed by the
PENRO of occidental Mindoro. Within six (6) months from the effectivity
of this Act, the DENR Regional Executive Director for Region IV-B, in
coordination with the  BMB,  shall prepare the manpower requirements,
including  plantilla  positions   for  the   TCPO   to   be   submitted  to  the
Department of Budget and Management.
SECTTOIN 8.  Establishment Of the  Tamaraw  Conservation and
Rcscarch  Cc#fer.-The  Tamaraw  Conservation  and  Research  Center
(TCRC) is hereby established to ensure that all conservation policies and
activities undertaken by the TCPA are based on empirical data findings
from scientific studies and research. The TCRC shall:
a)  Serve as the national conservation researeh center for the
Tamaraw    in    the    areas    of    conservation    genetics,
reproductive sciences, and diseases management;


b)  Promote   conservation   and   research   for   the   endemic
species of Mindoro Island; and
c)  Take  over the  operation of the  existing  Tamaraw  Gene
Pool Farm within Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park to pursue
the  envisioned plan to  strengthen  and  expand  Tamaraw
meta-population   management   in   the   entire   Mindoro
Island.
The management and operation of the TCRC facility shall be lodged with
the TCPO. All research activities shall be coordinated with the ERE and
Bum.
SE:CTloIN 9.  Tamaraw Conservation in Protected Areas.~:The
concerned Protected Area Management Board shall monitor and manage
the   Tamaraw   population   within   the   protected   areas,   ensuring   the
introduction of adequate measures and interventions for its conservation.
The PAMB, through PASu,  shall  collaborate closely with the  TCPO  in
carrying  out  Tamaraw  conservation  programs  and  activities  within  the
protected areas.
SECTION 10. 4propw.¢fz.our. - The Secretary of the DENR shall
immediately include in the Department' s programs the implementation of


this Act, the funding of which  shall be  included  in the annual  General
Appropriations Act.
SECTION IL. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -W.Ithin sin
(6) months  following the  effectivity of this  Act,  the DENR shall,  after
consultation with concerned government agencies and other institutions,
promulgate rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act.
SECTION 12. Separabz./rty/ C7ause. -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.
SECTION  13.  jRepco/I.#g  CJ¢&se.  - All  other  laws,  ordinances,
orders,  rules,  regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which  are
inconsistent  with  this  Act  are  hereby  repealed,  amended  or  modified
accordingly.
SECTION 14. E/grccfi.vrty. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days  after  its  publication  in  the  CREcz.cz/  GczzeJ/e  or  in  a  newspaper  of
general circulation.


APPROVED,