Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6296

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It shall be the policy of the Republic of the Philippines to:

(1) Conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to promote
ecological balance and enhance biological diversity; *

(2) Regulate the collection and trade of wildlife;

(3) Pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine
commitment to international conventions, protection of wildlife and
their habitats; and

(4) Initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of biological
diversity.

This House Bill seeks to protect and conserve the country's wildlife resources

and their habitats for sustainability and continuity. Increasing its penalties and
sanctions for all violations thereof.

Thus, the early passage of this bill is eamestly requested.

MICHAEL/L’ ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Phillippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL nB296

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO.9147 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“WILDLIFE RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION
ACT’TO ADOPT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE

POLICY TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT THE COUNTRY’S WILDLIFE

RESOURCES AND THEIR HABITATS FOR SUSTAINABILITY,
PROVIDING STIFFER PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1.

Section 28 of Chapter V of Republic Act No. 9147, is hereby amended to
read as follows:
CHAPTER V
Fines and Penalties

SECTION 28. Penalties for Violations of this Act — For any person who

undertakes illegal acts under paragraph (a) of the immediately


preceding section to any species as may be categorized pursuant to
this Act, the following penalties and/or fines shall be imposed:

{a} imprisonment of a minimum of six (6) years and one {1} day to
twelve (12) years and/or a fine of not less than Three hundred
thousand pesos (P300,000.00) to One milion pesos (1,000,000.00).
ifinflicted or undertaken against species listed as critical:

{b) imprisonment of four (4) years and one {1) day to six (6) years
and/or a fine of not less than One hundred fifty thousand pesos
(150,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken against endangered species;

{c} imprisonment of two (2) years and one {1) day to four (4)
years and/or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) to Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken against vuinerable species;

(d) imprisonment of one {1) year and one (1) day to two (2)
years and/or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00) to Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken against other threatened species; and

{e) imprisonment of six {6} months and one (1) day to one (1)
year and/or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (200,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken against other wildiife species.

For illegal acts under paragraph (b) of the immediately preceding
section, the following penalties and/or fines shall be imposed:

(a) imprisonment of a minimum of four (4) years and one (1) day
to six (6) years and/or a fine of not less than One hundred fifty
thousand pesos (150,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos


{P500,000.00), if inflicted of undertaken against species listed as
critical;

{b) imprisonment of two (2}years and one (1) day to four (4)
years and/or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(100,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00). if
inflicted or undertaken against endangered species:

(c) imprisonment of one (1) year and one (1) day to two (2) years
and/or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (50,000.00) to
Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00). if inflicted or
undertaken against yuinerable species;

(d) imprisonment of six (6) months and one |1) day to one (I)
year and/or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00) to One Hundired Fifty thousand pesos (P150,000,00),
it inflicted or undertaken against other threatened species; and

(e) imprisonment of one (1) month to six (6) months and/or a fine
of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (20,000.00) to One
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), if inflicted or undertaken
against other wildlife species.

For illegal acts under paragraphs (c) and (d) of the immediately
preceding section, an imprisonment of one (1) year fo eight (8) years
and/or a fine of not less than Three hundred thousand pesos
(300,000.00) to Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) shall be imposed.

For illegal acts under paragraph (e}. the following penalties and/or
fines shall be imposed:

{a) imprisonment of two (2) years and one (1) day to six (6) years
and/or a fine of not less than One hundred fifty thousand pesos


(150,000.00) to Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken against species listed as critical;

{b) imprisonment of one (1) year and one (1) day to three (3)
years and/or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P 100,000.00) to Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000,00) if
inflicted or undertaken against endangered species:

{c) imprisonment of six (4) months and one (1) day to two (2)
years and/or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00). if
inflicted or undertaken against vulnerable species;

{d) imprisonment of three (3) months and one (1] day to one q
year and/or a fine of not less than Thirty thousand pesos
(P 30,000.00) to One hundred thousand pesos (100,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken agains! species listed as other threatened
species; and

(e) imprisonment of one (1) month to six (6) months and/or a fine
of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (20,000.00) to Fifty
thousand pesos (P50,000.00), if infiicted or undertaken against
other wildlife species.

For illegal acts under paragraphs (f) and (9) Of the immediately
preceding section, the following penalties and/or fines shall be
imposed:

{a} imprisonment of two (2) years and one [1) day to six (6) years
and a fine of not less than One hundred fifty thousand pesos
(150,000.00) to Four hundred thousand pesos (400,000.00). if
inflicted or undertaken against species listed as critical;


(b) imprisonment of one (1) year and one (I) day to three (3)
years and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) to Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken against endangered species;

(c) imprisonment of six (6) months and one (1) day to two (2)
years and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (150,000.00)
fo Two hundred thousand pesos (200,000.00), if inflicted or
undertaken against vulnerable species:

(d) imprisonment of three (3) months and one (1) day to one (1)
year and a fine of not less than Thirty thousand pesos
(P 30,000.00) to One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken against species listed as other threatened
species; and

{e) imprisonment of one (1) month to six (6) months and a fine of
not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) to Fifty
thousand pesos (P50,000.00), if inflicted or undertaken against
other wildlife species:

Provided, That in case of paragraph (f), where the acts were
Perpetuated through the means of inappropriate techniques
‘and devices, the maximum penalty herein provided shall be
imposed.

For illegal acts under paragraphs [h) and (i) of the immediately
preceding section, the following penalties and/or fines shall be
imposed:

{a) imprisonment of one (1) year and one {1) day to three (3)
years and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P 100,000.00) fo Two hundred thousand pesos (200,000.00), if
inflicted or undertaken against species listed as critical species:


(b) imprisonment of six (6) months and one (1) day to two (2)
years and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00) to One hundred fifty thousand pesos (150,000.00),
if inflicted or undertaken against endangered species;

{c] imprisonment of three (3) months and one (1) day to one qa)
year and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00)
fo One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00). if inflicted or
undertaken against vulnerable species:

{d) imprisonment of one (1) month to six (6) months and a fine of
not less than Thirty thousand pesos (30,000.00) to Fifty thousand
Pesos (P50,000.00) if inflicted or undertaken against species listed
as other threatened species;

(e) imprisonment of one (1) month to three (3) months and a fine
Of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000,00) to Twenty
thousand pesos (P20,000.00), if inflicted or undertaken against
other wildiife species.

All wildlife. its derivatives or by-products, and all paraphernalia, tools
and conveyances used in connection with violations of this Act, shall
be ipso facto forteited in favor of the government:

Provided, That where the ownership of the aforesaid conveyances
belong to thitd persons who has no participation in or knowledge of
the illegal acts, the same may be released to said owner.

The apprehending agency shall immediately cause the transfer of all
wildiife that have been seized or recovered to the nearest Wildlife
Rescue Center of the Department in the area.

'f the offender is an alien, he shall be deported after service of
sentence and payment of fines, without any further proceedings.


The fines herein prescribed shall be increased by at least ten percent
(10%) every Five (5) years to compensate for inflation and to maintain
the deterrent function of such fines.

SECTION 2. TRANSITORY PROVISION ~ Existing industries, businesses
and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shail 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 3. 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 tules and regulations for its effective
implementation.

SECTION 4. REPEALING CLAUSE. ~ All laws, decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5, SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. ~ If, for any reason, ‘any section
oF provision of this Act Is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 6. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. ~ This Act shall take effect after
fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in atleast
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes
earlier,

Approved,