1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
On January 29, 1988, President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 212, 
“Establishing Palompon Watershed Forest Reserve (PWFR)” situated in the 
Municipalities of Palompon, Matag-ob and Villaba in the Province of Leyte, setting a 
parcel of land for watershed and other ecological enhancement purposes. Historically, 
the PWFR has been the site of many government-supported environmental programs 
and initiatives such as the Upland Development Program (UDP), DBP Forest 
Watershed Rehabilitation Project and the National Greening Program (NGP).  
The Revised Forestry Code (PD 705) defines a ’watershed’ as a ‘land area 
drained by a stream or fixed body of water and its tributaries having a common outlet 
for surface run-off.’ On the other hand, ‘forest reservation’ is defined as, ‘forest lands 
which have been reserved by the President of the Philippines for any specific purpose 
or purposes.’ Moreover, pursuant to Section 5 (a) of the National Integrated Protected 
Areas System Act of 1992 or RA 7686, as amended by RA 11038, the PWFR, is 
designated an ‘initial component of the NIPAS System,’ by virtue of Presidential 
Proclamation No. 212.  
The PWFR’s eco-systemic role is critical to the irrigation of the lowland areas 
of Barangays San Isidro, San Juan, Sabang, San Miguel, and other barangays including 
rice fields of Tabunok. The PWFR is also the source of bulk water supply to the Water 
Administration and Services of Hinablayan (WASH), a public utility owned and 
operated by the Municipality of Palompon, which provides water to 30 barangays 
including its town center. 
However, despite the PWFR’s indisputable contributions to the water 
ecosystem services of the surrounding areas at large, the PWFR remains vulnerable and 
February 14, 2023
1:58 pm
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accessible to economic activities that degrade the source of water that supports the 
surrounding barangays, municipalities and perhaps even influence the hydrologic 
systems in areas as far as Ormoc City.  
Most recently, there have been environmentally damaging activities reportedly 
conducted in the environs of the PWFR. As far back as November, 2020, residents of 
Barangay San Joaquin in Palompon, have formally complained about illegal dumping 
of production waste from a high-volume chicken dressing plant, around the PWFR’s 
buffer zone.  Additionally, a portion of forestland in Lat-Osan, Palompon has been re-
zoned as Industrial Zone, and is presently utilized as a poultry farm containing large-
scale facilities with a 98,000 chicken capacity. 
On top of this, the territorial maps of the PWFR, had been mis-rendered in 
various occasions by the DENR-Region 8 and Palompon CLUP. This ambiguity gave 
way to re-zoning of areas from forestland to industrial use. Moreover, Proclamation 
212 declares, in a note on its attached Map W.R.-67, that ‘All certified Alienable or 
Disposable Blocks are deemed excluded from the operation of the Watershed Forest 
Reserve,” meaning that the watershed only covers the forestland area, which is 
approximately only 20% of the entire 2,392 hectares identified as the PWFR. 
It is very clear, that this critical watershed forest needs to be protected as part 
of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).  
In view of the foregoing, the swift approval of this bill, seeking the declaration 
of the area known as the Palompon Watershed Forest Reserve, as a NIPAS protected 
area, to be known as the Palompon Protected Landscape, is earnestly sought.   
 
 
 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT 
DECLARING A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE 
MUNICIPALITIES OF PALOMPON, MATAG-OB AND VILLABA IN THE 
PROVINCE OF LEYTE, A PROTECTED AREA WITH THE CATEGORY OF 
PROTECTED LANDSCAPE UNDER THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED 
PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM (NIPAS), TO BE REFERRED TO AS THE 
PALOMPON PROTECTED LANDSCAPE, PROVIDING FOR ITS 
MANAGEMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Palompon Protected 
Landscape Act.” 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. — Cognizant of the profound impact of human 
activities on all components of the natural environment, it 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 declaration of protected 
areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) within the 
classification of national park as provided for in the Constitution. 
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In recognition of the richness of the biological resources, both flora and fauna, 
that are native and distinct to Palompon, Matag-ob and Villaba, as well as their aesthetic 
and ecological importance, a parcel of land located in the municipalities  of Palompon, 
Matag-ob and Villaba in the Province of Leyte, and covering the Palompon Watershed 
Forest Reserve, is hereby declared a protected area with the category of protected 
landscape, and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Palompon Protected Landscape 
(PPL). As such, the State shall ensure the conservation, protection, management and 
rehabilitation of the area. It is likewise recognized that effective administration of this 
area is possible only through cooperation among national government, local 
government units (LGUs), concerned nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private 
entities and local communities. The use and enjoyment of this area must be consistent 
with the principles of biological diversity and sustainable development. 
Towards this end, the State shall ensure the full implementation of this Act, the 
mobilization of resources for the institutional mechanisms herein established, and the 
full scientific and technical support needed for the conservation of biodiversity and the 
integrity of the ecosystems, culture and indigenous practices. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act: 
(a) Biodiversity - shall refer to the variety and variability among all living 
organisms and the ecological complexities in which they occur. 
(b) Biological resources - shall include genetic resources, organisms or parts 
thereof, population or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential 
use or value for humanity. 
(c) Buffer zones refer to identified areas outside the boundaries of and 
immediately adjacent to designated protected areas that need special development 
control in order to avoid or minimize harm to the protected area; 
(d) Conservation refers to any act or acts of preservation and sustainable 
utilization of wildlife or maintenance, restoration and enhancement of habitats; 
(e) National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) - shall refer to the 
classification and administration of all designated protected areas to maintain essential 
ecological processes and life - support systems, to preserve genetic diversity, to ensure 
sustainable use of resources found therein and to maintain their natural conditions to 
the greatest extent possible. 
(f) NIPAS Act - refers to the National Integrated Protected Areas System 
(NIPAS) Act of 1992 or Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by RA No. 11038, and its 
implementing rules and regulations. 
 
 


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(g) National park refers to land of the public domain classified as such in the 
Constitution which includes all areas under the NIPAS, primarily designated for the 
conservation of native plants and animals, their associated habitats and cultural 
diversity; 
(h) Protected area refers to an identified portion of land and water set aside by 
reason of its unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance 
biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation; 
(i) Protected landscape refers to an area of national significance, which are 
characterized by the harmonious interaction of human, land, and water while providing 
opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation, tourism, and other economic 
activities;  
(j) Special-use zones - shall refer to areas containing existing installations of 
national and local significance, such as telecommunication facilities, irrigation canals, 
water supply infrastructure or electric power lines; 
(k) Sustainable - shall refer to the use of components of biological diversity in 
a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity, 
thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of the present and 
future generations.; 
(l) Strict protection zones - shall refer to natural areas with high biodiversity 
value which shall be closed to all human activity except for scientific studies .and 
ceremonial or religious use by the indigenous cultural communities/indigenous 
peoples; may include habitats of threatened species, or degraded areas that have been 
designated for restoration and subsequent protection, even if these areas are still in 
various stages of regeneration; 
(m) Tenured migrants refer to protected area occupants who have been actually, 
continuously and presently occupying a portion of the protected area for five (5) years 
before the proclamation or law establishing the same as a protected area, and are solely 
dependent therein for subsistence; and 
(n) Zones - shall refer to the divisions within the PPL consisting of levels of 
protection and permitted use of natural resources such as strict protection zone, 
sustainable-use zone, restoration zone, multiple-use zone and special-use zone, as 
provided under existing rules and regulations of the NIPAS. 
SEC. 4. Land Classification as a National Park. — The PPL is comprised of a 
parcel of land of the public domain located in the municipalities of Palompon, Matag-
ob and Villaba in the Province of Leyte, and covering the proclaimed Palompon 
Watershed Forest Reserve. All lands within the coverage and scope of the PPL shall 
fall under the classification of national park as provided for in Article XII, SEC. 3 of 
the Constitution. 
SEC. 5. Scope and Coverage. — The boundaries of the PPL are more 
particularly described as the area beginning at a point marked "1" on S89-31-22E; 


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2,457.06 meters from PRS Control Monument ”LYT-3199” (11°03′58.01277 N 
Latitude, 124°22’43.14507 E” Longitude) located in Barangay San Juan, Palompon, 
Leyte; 
Thence N 29-57-24 E, 861.06 meters to corner 2; 
Thence N 71-23-09 E, 450.05 meters to corner 3; 
Thence S 87-26-02 E, 695.53 meters to corner 4; 
Thence S 87-26-02 E, 268.47 meters to corner 5; 
Thence N 43-13-58 E, 150.51 meters to corner 6; 
Thence N 14-04-17 E, 275.28 meters to corner 7; 
Thence N 26-36-50 W, 200.02 meters to corner 8; 
Thence N 00-23-10 E, 200.02 meters to corner 9; 
Thence N 16-37-11 W, 350.41 meters to corner 10; 
Thence N 01-13-42 W, 254.55 meters to corner 11; 
Thence N 29-36-49 W, 139.86 meters to corner 12; 
Thence N 42-11-38 W, 253.07 meters to corner 13; 
Thence N 20-46-58 W, 633.69 meters to corner 14; 
Thence N 26-07-05 E, 313.32 meters to corner 15; 
Thence N 36-26-57 E, 530.01 meters to corner 16; 
Thence N 17-30-50 E, 482.59 meters to corner 17; 
Thence N 13-50-44 E, 454.68 meters to corner 18; 
Thence N 14-43-43 W, 387.53 meters to corner 19; 
Thence N 02-41-25 E, 635.45 meters to corner 20; 
Thence N 41-09-55 E, 349.44 meters to corner 21; 
Thence N 09-59-36 E, 255.3 meters to corner 22; 
Thence N 16-47-01 W, 555.81 meters to corner 23; 
Thence N 42-24-33 E, 367.78 meters to corner 24; 
Thence N 04-15-46 W, 295.07 meters to corner 25; 
Thence N 14-24-30 E, 347.33 meters to corner 26; 
Thence N 19-57-18 E, 625.66 meters to corner 27; 
Thence N 32-37-20 E, 787.22 meters to corner 28; 
Thence N 32-23-40 E, 202.04 meters to corner 29; 
Thence S 56-16-16 E, 519.28 meters to corner 30; 


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Thence S 25-41-10 E, 504.76 meters to corner 31; 
Thence S 53-23-33 E, 569.85 meters to corner 32; 
Thence S 8-26-36 W, 595.48 meters to corner 33; 
Thence S 37-47-28 E, 236.3 meters to corner 34; 
Thence S 15-24-19 E, 541.02 meters to corner 35; 
Thence S 60-06-44 E, 279.21 meters to corner 36; 
Thence S 15-35-26 W, 299.18 meters to corner 37; 
Thence S 20-38-55 W, 354.8 meters to corner 38; 
Thence S 16-15-13 E, 509.95 meters to corner 39; 
Thence S 60-53-14 W, 300.03 meters to corner 40; 
Thence S 29-06-46 E, 224.47 meters to corner 41; 
Thence S 07-38-44 E, 218.84 meters to corner 42; 
Thence S 68-32-18 E, 429.6 meters to corner 43; 
Thence N 88-57-50 E, 426.15 meters to corner 44; 
Thence N 59-54-09 E, 352.19 meters to corner 45; 
Thence S 39-51-22 E, 471.19 meters to corner 46; 
Thence S 37-36-47 E, 325.03 meters to corner 47; 
Thence S 42-36-47 E, 300.02 meters to corner 48; 
Thence N 42-34-13 E, 171.13 meters to corner 49; 
Thence N 06-13-35 E, 468.13 meters to corner 50; 
Thence S 74-42-49 E, 381.05 meters to corner 51; 
Thence N 04-38-52 W, 266.11 meters to corner 52; 
Thence N 36-38-28 E, 246.1 meters to corner 53; 
Thence S 77-33-04 E, 409.4 meters to corner 54; 
Thence S 11-38-16 E, 194.69 meters to corner 55; 
Thence S 31-47-53 E, 509.93 meters to corner 56; 
Thence S 53-08-24 E, 473.84 meters to corner 57; 
Thence S 13-36-48 E, 499.76 meters to corner 58; 
Thence S 33-29-25 W, 484.69 meters to corner 59; 
Thence S 00-23-12 W, 150.01 meters to corner 60; 
Thence S 22-19-19 W, 394.38 meters to corner 61; 
Thence S 24-06-49 E, 250.02 meters to corner 62; 


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Thence S 65-53-11 W, 190.84 meters to corner 63; 
Thence S 33-31-42 W, 367.21 meters to corner 64; 
Thence S 02-13-56 E, 708.3 meters to corner 65; 
Thence S 88-35-40 W, 326.99 meters to corner 66; 
Thence 53-32-17 W, 139.15 meters to corner 67; 
Thence S 12-23-25 E, 237.15 meters to corner 68; 
Thence S 49-36-51 E, 150.01 meters to corner 69; 
Thence S 11-06-51 E, 200.01 meters to corner 70; 
Thence S 33-49-29 E, 324.93 meters to corner 71; 
Thence S 15-23-9 W, 250.02 meters to corner 72; 
Thence S 06-36-52 E, 200.01 meters to corner 73; 
Thence S 23-23-08 W, 200.01 meters to corner 74; 
Thence S 10-36-52 E, 223.12 meters to corner 75; 
Thence S 29-35-55 W, 379.3 meters to corner 76; 
Thence S 48-53-07 W, 515.01 meters to corner 77; 
Thence S 51-13-09 W, 527.69 meters to corner 78; 
Thence S 33-25-35 W, 255.58 meters to corner 79; 
Thence S 52-35-13 E, 207.36 meters to corner 80; 
Thence S 23-30-47 E, 313.93 meters to corner 81; 
Thence S 05-22-23 E, 452.97 meters to corner 82; 
Thence S 32-47-30 W, 330.98 meters to corner 83; 
Thence S 18-8-56 W, 210.68 meters to corner 84; 
Thence S 23-59-33 E, 286.52 meters to corner 85; 
Thence S 52-53-45 W, 438.42 meters to corner 86; 
Thence S 43-54-50 W, 453.04 meters to corner 87; 
Thence N 72-36-56 W, 150.01 meters to corner 88; 
Thence N 10-01-46 W, 287 meters to corner 89; 
Thence N 02-48-59, 338.51 meters to corner 90; 
Thence N 15-36-55 W, 225.02 meters to corner 91; 
Thence N 23-36-55 W, 325.03 meters to corner 92; 
Thence N 74-50-20 W, 255.19 meters to corner 93; 
Thence S 46-19-45 W, 340.58 meters to corner 94; 


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Thence S 31-23-05 W, 458.56 meters to corner 95; 
Thence S 50-29-22 W, 342.87 meters to corner 96; 
Thence N 81-44-10 W, 215.83 meters to corner 97; 
Thence N 54-36-56 W, 550.05 meters to corner 98; 
Thence S 76-23-05 W, 250.02 meters to corner 99; 
Thence N 50-10-25 W, 149.15 meters to corner 100; 
Thence N 86-36-55 W, 375.04 meters to corner 101; 
Thence S 88-23-05 W, 350.03 meters to corner 102; 
Thence N 49-11-11 W, 397.59 meters to corner 103; 
Thence N 75-47-33 W, 291.44 meters to corner 104; 
Thence N 48-36-55 W, 150.02 meters to corner 105; 
Thence N 16-36-55 W, 350.04 meters to corner 106; 
Thence N 47-17-33 W, 332.22 meters to corner 107; 
Thence N 87-11-47 W, 341.69 meters to corner 108; 
Thence N 77-41-15 W, 376.01 meters to corner 109; 
Thence N 64-51-12 W, 473.83 meters to corner 110; 
Thence N 13-48-56 W, 285.97 meters to corner 111; 
Thence N 44-29-51 W, 370.25 meters to corner 112; 
Thence N 65-34-14 W, 470.85 meters to corner 113; 
Thence N 16-35-48 W, 231.03 meters to corner 114; 
Thence N 8-15-06 W, 150.72 meters to corner 115; 
Thence N 21-26-04 E, 419.46 meters to corner 116; 
Thence N 28-38-42 E, 389.26 meters to corner 1, the point of beginning, 
containing an area of TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED NINETY TWO 
(2,392.0) HECTARES, more or less. 
The technical descriptions provided in this Act shall be subject to ground survey 
and verification to be conducted by the DENR within ninety (90) days after the 
effectivity of this Act. Once surveyed and verified on the ground, the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall mark on the ground the boundaries 
set forth in this Act which shall not be modified except by an act of Congress. 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, and supported through sound technical 
and scientific basis, shall be made through an act of Congress, after consultation with 
the affected public and concerned government agencies. 


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SEC. 6. Establishment of Buffer Zones. — There is hereby established a 1,000 
meters buffer zone extending from the boundaries based on the technical descriptions 
provided in this Act, for the purpose of providing an extra layer of protection where 
restrictions may be applied: Provided, That, in cases where the designated buffer zone 
would cover private lands, the owners thereof shall be required to design their 
development with due consideration to the protected area management plan. The 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary, upon the 
recommendation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) created under 
SEC. 7 of this Act, may designate areas surrounding the PPL as additional buffer zones.  
 
ARTICLE II 
MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS 
SEC. 7. Palompon Protected Landscape- Protected Area Management Board 
(PPL-PPL-PAMB). — Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, a 
Protected Area Management Board (PPL-PAMB) shall be created to oversee the 
management of the PPL. The PPL-PPL-PAMB shall be composed of the following: 
(a) DENR Regional Executive Director for Region VIII, as Chairperson; 
(b) Governor of the Province of Leyte or his/her duly authorized representative; 
(c) Senators of the Republic of the Philippines who are duly registered residents 
of Leyte, or their duly designated representatives, unless the Senators decline the 
membership in the PPL-PAMB; 
(d) District Representative of the Congressional District where the PPL is 
located, or his/her duly designated representative, unless the District Representative 
declines the membership in the PPL-PAMB; 
(e) Mayors of the municipalities of Palompon, Matag-ob and Villaba in the 
Province of Leyte or their duly authorized representatives; 
(f) Chairpersons of all the barangays with territorial jurisdiction over the PPL; 
(g) Regional Directors of the following government agencies, namely: 
Department of Agriculture (DA), National Economic and Development Authority 
(NEDA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine National Police 
(PNP), Department of National Defense (DND), and the Department of Tourism 
(DOT); 
(h) Three (3) representatives from either NGOs, or people's organizations (POs) 
based in the Province of Leyte, duly accredited both by the DENR and the provincial 
government. The NGOs or POs represented should have been in existence for at least 
five (5) years and must have a record of accomplishments in the field of protected area 
management; 


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(i) One (1) representative from an academic institution, preferably from a 
university or college in the Province of Leyte, with a record of accomplishments in or 
related to protected area management; and 
(j) One (1) representative from the private sector, preferably a resident of the 
Province of Leyte, who is distinguished in a profession or field of interest relevant to 
the protected area management. 
The terms of office of members of the PPL- PPL-PAMB, as well as the grounds 
for their removal, shall be in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7586, 
otherwise known as the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992,"  as 
amended by Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the "Expanded National 
Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018. 
SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the PPL-PPL-PAMB. — The PPL-PPL-
PAMB shall have the following powers and functions: 
(a) Oversee the management of the protected area; 
(b) Approve policies, plans and programs, proposals, agreements, and other 
related documents for the management of the protected areas; 
(c) Adopt a manual of operations to include rules of procedures in the conduct 
of business, and the creation of committees and their respective terms of reference; 
(d) Recommend the deputation of appropriate agencies and individuals for the 
enforcement of the laws, rules and regulations governing the management of the 
protected area; 
(e) Allocate financial resources for the implementation of the management plan 
and manage the Protected Area Retention Income Account and other funds in 
accordance with government accounting, budgeting, and auditing rules and regulations; 
(f) Set fees and charges in accordance with existing guidelines; 
(g) Issue rules and regulations for the resolution of conflicts through appropriate 
and effective means; 
(h) Recommend appropriate policy changes to the DENR and other government 
authorities with respect to the management of the PPL; 
(i) Monitor and assess the performance of the Protected Area Superintendent 
(PASu) and other protected area personnel, and compliance of partners with the terms 
and conditions of any undertaking, contract or agreement relative to any project or 
activity within the PPL; 
(j) Recommend from among a shortlist of qualified candidates, the designation 
or appointment of the PASu; and 
(k) Assess the effectiveness of the management of the protected 
area: Provided, That the members of the PPL-PAMB representing the LGUs and 
national agencies shall inform their respective constituents, offices or sectors, of PPL-


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PAMB-approved or other relevant policies, rules, regulations, programs, and projects 
and shall ensure that the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations issued to 
implement it are complied with and used as reference and framework in their respective 
plans, policies, programs, and projects. Failure to comply with the foregoing shall be 
the basis for disciplinary action against such member according to administrative rules 
and regulations and such penalties as the PPL-PAMB may provide: Provided, further, 
That the DENR, through the Regional Director, shall ensure that the PPL-
PAMB acts within the scope of its powers and functions. In case of conflict between 
the resolutions issued by the PPL-PAMB and the existing administrative orders of 
national application, the latter shall prevail. 
SEC. 9. The Protected Area Management Office (PAMO). — There is hereby 
established a Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) to be headed by a PASu who 
shall supervise the day-to-day management, protection, and administration of the PPL. 
The PASu shall hold a permanent plantilla position and shall be appointed by the DENR 
Secretary. A sufficient number of support staff with permanent plantilla positions shall 
likewise be appointed by the DENR Secretary to assist the PASu in the management of 
the protected area. 
The PASu shall be primarily accountable to the PPL-PAMB and the DENR for 
the management and operations of the PPL. Pursuant thereto, the PASu shall have the 
following duties and responsibilities: 
(a) Prepare the management plan, in consultation with the stakeholders, 
including the annual work and financial plan and ensure its implementation; 
(b) Ensure the integration of the protected area management plans, programs, 
projects, and policies with relevant national and LGUs' plans and programs; 
(c) Provide secretariat services to the PPL-PAMB and its committees and 
ensure the availability of relevant and timely information for decision-making; 
(d) Formulate and recommend to the PPL-PAMB proposed policies, rules, 
regulations, and programs; 
(e) Establish, operate, and maintain a database management system which shall 
be an important basis for decision-making; 
(f) Enforce the laws, rules and regulations relevant to the protected area, 
commence and institute administrative and legal actions in collaboration with other 
government agencies or organizations, and assist in the prosecution of offenses 
committed in violation of the provisions of this Act; 
(g) Monitor, evaluate, and report the implementation of management activities 
of the protected area; 
(h) Request for and receive any technical assistance, support or advice from any 
agency or instrumentality of the government as well as academic institutions, NGOs, 
and the private sector, as may be necessary for the effective management, protection 
and administration of the protected area; 


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(i) Issue permits and clearances for activities that implement the management 
plan and other permitted activities in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria 
established by the PPL-PAMB: Provided, That all permits for extraction of natural 
resources, including collection of wildlife, and its by-products or derivatives for 
research purposes, shall continue to be issued by relevant authorities, subject to prior 
clearance from the PPL-PAMB, through the PASu, in accordance with the 
specific acts to be covered; 
(j) Collect and receive pertinent fees, charges, donations, and other income for 
the protected area: Provided, That such fees, charges, donations, and other income 
collected and received shall be reported regularly to the PPL-PAMB and the DENR in 
accordance with existing guidelines;] 
(k) Prepare and recommend to the PPL-PAMB, approval of the annual work 
and financial plans of the protected area based on the management plan; and 
(l) Perform such other functions as the PPL-PAMB and the DENR may 
assign.ℒαwρhi৷ The PAMO may be augmented by the deputized local environment and 
natural resources officers upon the recommendation of the PPL-PAMB and approval 
of the DENR. 
ARTICLE III 
PROCEEDS AND FEES 
SEC. 10. The Palompon Protected Landscape Integrated Protected Area 
Fund. — There is hereby established a trust fund to be known as the Palompon 
Protected Landscape Integrated Protected Area Fund (PPL-IPAF) for purposes of 
financing the projects of the PPL and the NIPAS. All income generated from the 
operation and management of wild flora and fauna in the PPL shall accrue to the PPL-
IPAF. The income shall be derived from fees from permitted sale and export of flora 
and fauna and other resources; from the PPL proceeds; from lease of multiple-use areas; 
contributions from industries and facilities directly benefiting from the PPL; and such 
other fees and income derived from the operation of the PPL. 
The PPL-PAMB shall retain seventy-five percent (75%) of all revenues raised 
through the above means, which shall be deposited to the Protected Area-Retained 
Income Account (PA-RIA) in any authorized government depository bank within the 
locality: Provided, That disbursements out of such deposits shall be used solely for the 
protection, maintenance, administration, and management of the protected area and 
implementation of duly approved projects of the PPL-PAMB. The remaining twenty-
five percent (25%) of revenues shall be deposited as a special account in the general 
fund in the National Treasury for purposes of financing the projects of the NIPAS. 
The fund may be augmented by grants, donations, and endowment from various 
sources, domestic or foreign: Provided, That the fund shall be deposited in full as a 
special account in the National Treasury and disbursements therefrom shall be made 
solely for the protection, maintenance, administration and management of the NIPAS 
and duly approved projects endorsed by the PPL-PAMB in accordance with existing 


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accounting, budgeting and auditing rules and regulations: Provided, further, That the 
fund shall not be used to cover personal services expenditures. 
The LGUs shall continue to impose taxes and collect all other fees not 
enumerated herein that they have traditionally collected, such as fees for business 
permit applications, property taxes and rental fees of LGUs' facilities. 
ARTICLE IV 
TRANSITORY AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 11. Appropriations. — The Secretary of the DENR shall immediately 
include in the Department's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of 
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 12. Suppletory Application of the NIPAS Law. — The provisions of 
Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, shall have suppletory 
application to this Act. All prohibited acts and corresponding penalties imposed thereof 
as defined under Sections 20 and 21, including the applicable new sections added after 
Section 21 of RA 7586 as amended by RA 11038 are hereby integrated and shall form 
part of this Act. 
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DENR shall, in consultation with the 
local governments of the municipalities of Palompon, Matag-ob and Villaba, the 
Provincial Government of Leyte, and concerned national government agencies, issue 
the corresponding rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining sections or provisions not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, issuances and local ordinances or parts thereof that are contrary to or  
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 16. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,