Fifth Regular Session a.

Strict nature reserve;

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty- b. Natural park;
second day of July, nineteen hundred and ninety one.
c. Natural monument;
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7586
d. Wildlife sanctuary;
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
AND MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL INTEGRATED e. Protected landscapes and seascapes;
PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM, DEFINING ITS
SCOPE AND COVERAGE, AND FOR OTHER f. Resource reserve;
PURPOSES
g. Natural biotic areas; and
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:
h. Other categories established by law, conventions or
international agreements which the Philippine
Section 1. Title – This Act shall be known and referred Government is a signatory.
to as the "National Integrated Protected Areas System
Act of 1992″.
Section 4. Definition of Terms – For purposes of this
Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
Section 2. Declaration of Policy – Cognizant of the
profound impact of man’s activities on all components of
the natural environment particularly the effect of 1. "National Integrated Protected Areas System
increasing population, resource exploitation and (NIPAS)" is the classification and administration of all
industrial advancement and recognizing the critical designated protected areas to maintain essential
importance of protecting and maintaining the natural ecological processes and life-support systems, to
biological and physical diversities of the environment preserve genetic diversity, to ensure sustainable use of
notably on areas with biologically unique features to resources found therein, and to maintain their natural
sustain human life and development, as well as plant conditions to the greatest extent possible;
and animal life, it is hereby declared the policy of the
State to secure for the Filipino people of present and 2. "Protected Area" refers to identified portions of land
future generations the perpetual existence of all native and water set aside by reason of their unique physical
plants and animals through the establishment of a and biological significance, managed to enhance
comprehensive system of integrated protected areas biological diversity and protected against destructive
within the classification of national park as provided for in human exploitation;
the Constitution.
3. "Buffer zones" are identified areas outside the
It is hereby recognized that these areas, although boundaries of and immediately adjacent to designated
distinct in features, posses common ecological values protected areas pursuant to Section 8 that need special
that may be incorporated into a holistic plan development control in order to avoid or minimize harm
representative of our natural heritage; that effective to the protected area;
administration of this area is possible only through
cooperation among national government, local 4. "Indigenous cultural community" refers to a group of
government and concerned private organizations; that people sharing common bonds of language, customs,
the use and enjoyment of these protected areas must be traditions and other distinctive cultural traits and who
consistent with the principles of biological diversity and have since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and
sustainable development. utilized a territory;

To this end, there is hereby established a National 5. "National park" refers to a forest reservation
Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), which shall essentially of natural wilderness character which has
encompass outstandingly remarkable areas and been withdrawn from settlement, occupancy or any form
biologically important public lands that are habitats of of exploitation except in conformity with approved
rare and endangered species of plants and animals, management plan and set aside as such exclusively to
biogeographic zones and related ecosystems, whether conserve the area or preserve the scenery, the natural
terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be and historic objects, wild animals and plants therein and
designated as "protected areas". to provide enjoyment of these features in such areas;
1
Page

Section 3. Categories – The following categories of 6. "Natural monuments" is a relatively small area
protected areas are hereby established: focused on protection of small features to protect or
preserve nationally significant natural features on 1. All areas or islands in the Philippines proclaimed,
account of their special interest or unique characteristics; designated or set aside, pursuant to a law, presidential
decree, presidential proclamation or executive order as
7. "Natural biotic area" is an area set aside to allow the national park, game refuge, bird and wildlife sanctuary,
way of life of societies living in harmony with the wilderness area, strict nature reserve, watershed,
environment to adapt to modern technology at their mangrove reserve, fish sanctuary, natural and historical
pace; landmark, protected and managed landscape/seascape
as well as identified virgin forests before the effectivity of
this Act are hereby designated as initial components of
8. "Natural park" is a relatively large area not materially
the System. The initial components of the System shall
altered by human activity where extractive resource uses
be governed by existing laws, rules and regulations, not
are not allowed and maintained to protect outstanding
inconsistent with this Act;
natural and scenic areas of national or international
significance for scientific, educational and recreational
use; 2. Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the
DENR shall submit to the Senate and the House of
Representatives a map and legal descriptions or natural
9. "Protected landscapes/seascapes" are areas of
boundaries of each protected area initially comprising
national significance which are characterized by the
the System. Such maps and legal description shall, by
harmonious interaction of man and land while providing
virtue of this Act, constitute the official documentary
opportunities for public enjoyment through the recreation
representation of the entire System, subject to such
and tourism within the normal lifestyle and economic
changes as Congress deems necessary;
activity of these areas;

3. All DENR records pertaining to said protected areas,

10. "Resource reserve" is an extensive and relatively
including maps and legal descriptions or natural
isolated and uninhabited area normally with difficult
boundaries, copies of rules and regulations governing
access designated as such to protect natural resources
them, copies of public notices of, and reports submitted
of the area for future use and prevent or contain
to Congress regarding pending additions, eliminations,
development activities that could affect the resource
or modifications shall be made available to the public.
pending the establishment of objectives which are based
These legal documents pertaining to protected areas
upon appropriate knowledge and planning;
shall also be available to the public in the respective
DENR Regional Offices, Provincial Environment and
11. "Strict nature reserve" is an area possessing some Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and Community
outstanding ecosystem, features and/or species of flora Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs)
and fauna of national scientific importance maintained to where NIPAS areas are located;
protect nature and maintain processes in an undisturbed
state in order to have ecologically representative
4. Within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act,
examples of the natural environment available for
the DENR shall study and review each area tentatively
scientific study, environmental monitoring, education,
composing the System as to its suitability or non-
and for the maintenance of genetic resources in a
suitability for preservation as protected area and
dynamic and evolutionary state;
inclusion in the System according to the categories
established in Section 3 hereof and report its findings to
12. "Tenured migrant communities" are communities the President as soon as each study is completed. The
within protected areas which have actually and study must include in each area:
continuously occupied such areas for five (5) years
before the designation of the same as protected areas in
1. A forest occupants survey;
accordance with this Act and are solely dependent
therein for subsistence; and
2. An ethnographic study;
13. "Wildlife sanctuary" comprises an area which
assures the natural conditions necessary to protect 3. A protected area resource profile;
nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic
communities or physical features of the environment 4. Land use plans done in coordination with the
where these may require specific human manipulations respective Regional Development Councils; and
for their perpetuation.
5. Such other background studies as will be sufficient
Section 5. Establishment and Extent of the System – bases for selection.
The establishment and operationalization of the System
shall involve the following:
2

The DENR shall:

Page
1. Notify the public of proposed action through shall, in turn, advice Congress. Disestablishment of a
publication in a newspaper of general circulation, and protected area under the System or modification of its
such other means as the System deems necessary in boundary shall take effect pursuant to an act of
the area or areas in the vicinity of the affected land thirty Congress. Thereafter, said area shall revert to the
(30) days prior to the public hearing; category of public forests unless otherwise classified by
Congress: Provided however, that after disestablishment
i. Conduct public hearings at the locations nearest to the by Congress, the Secretary may recommend the transfer
area affected; of such disestablished area to other government
agencies to serve other priority programs of national
interest.
ii. At least thirty (30) days prior to the date of hearing,
advise all Local Government Units (LGUs) in the affected
areas, national agencies concerned, people’s Section 8. Buffer Zones. – For each protected area,
organizations and non-government organizations and there shall be established peripheral buffer zones when
invite such officials to submit their views on the proposed necessary, in the same manner as Congress establishes
action at the hearing not later than thirty (30) days the protected area, to protect the same from activities
following the date of hearing; and that will directly and indirectly harm it. Such buffer zones
shall be included in the individual protected area
management plan that shall prepared for each protected
iii. Give due consideration to the recommendations at the
area. The DENR shall exercise its authority over
public hearing; and provide sufficient explanation for his
protected areas as provided in this Act on such area and
recommendations contrary to the general sentiments
designated as buffer zones.
expressed in the public hearing;

Section 9. Management Plans. – There shall be a

2. Upon receipt of the recommendations of the DENR,
general management planning strategy to serve as guide
the President shall issue a presidential proclamation
in formulating individual plans for each protected area.
designating the recommended areas as protected areas
The management planning strategy shall, at the
and providing for measures for their protection until such
minimum, promote the adoption and implementation of
time when Congress shall have enacted a law finally
innovative management techniques including if
declaring such recommended areas as part of the
necessary, the concept of zoning, buffer zone
integrated protected area systems; and
management for multiple use and protection, habitat
conservation and rehabilitation, diversity management,
3. Thereafter, the President shall send to the Senate and community organizing, socioeconomic and scientific
the House of Representatives his recommendations with researches, site-specific policy development, pest
respect to the designations as protected areas or management, and fire control. The management
reclassification of each area on which review has been planning strategy shall also provide guidelines for the
completed, together with maps and legal description of protection of indigenous cultural communities, other
boundaries. The President, in his recommendation, may tenured migrant communities and sites for close
propose the alteration of existing boundaries of any or all coordination between and among local agencies of the
proclaimed protected areas, addition of any contiguous Government as well as the private sector.
area of public land of predominant physical and
biological value. Nothing contained herein shall limit the
Each component area of the System shall be planned
President to propose, as part of his recommendation to
and administered to further protect and enhance the
Congress, additional areas which have not been
permanent preservation of its natural conditions. A
designated, proclaimed or set aside by law, presidential
management manual shall be formulated and developed
decree, proclamation or executive orders as protected
which must contain the following: an individual
area/s.
management plan prepared by three (3) experts, basic
background information, field inventory of the resources
Section 6. Additional Areas to be Integrated to the within the area, an assessment of assets and limitations,
System. – Notwithstanding the establishment of the regional interrelationships, particular objectives for
initial component of the additional areas with outstanding managing the area, appropriate division of the area into
physical features, anthropological significance and management zones, a review of the boundaries of the
biological diversity in accordance with the provisions of area, and a design of the management programs.
Section 5d.
Section 10. Administration and Management of the
Section 7. Disestablishment as Protected Area. – When System. – The National Integrated Protected Areas
in the opinion of the DENR a certain protected area System is hereby placed under the control and
should be withdrawn or disestablished, or its boundaries administration of the Department of Environment and
modified as warranted by a study and sanctioned by the
3

Natural Resources. For this purpose, there is hereby

majority of the members of the respective boards for the
Page

created a division in the regional offices of the

protected area as herein established in Section 11, it Department to be called the Protected Areas and Wildlife
Division in regions where protected areas have been be necessary to accomplish the objectives and activities
established, which shall be under the supervision of a of the System;
Regional Technical Director, and shall include
subordinate officers, clerks, and employees as may be k. To submit an annual report to the President of the
proposed by the Secretary, duly approved by the Philippines and to Congress on the status of protected
Department of Budget and Management, and areas in the country;
appropriated by the Congress. The Service thus
established shall manage protected areas and promote l. To establish a uniform marker of the System, including
the permanent preservation, to the greatest extent an appropriate and distinctive symbol for each category
possible of their natural conditions. in the System, in consultation with appropriate
government agencies and public and private
To carry out the mandate of this Act, the Secretary of the organizations;
DENR is empowered to perform any and all of the
following acts: m. To determine the specification of the class, type and
style of buildings and other structures to be constructed
a. To conduct studies on various characteristic features in protected areas and the materials to be used;
and conditions of the different protected areas, using
commonalities in their characteristics, classify and define n. Control the construction, operation and maintenance
them into categories and prescribe permissible or of roads, trails, waterworks, sewerage, fire protection,
prohibited human activities in each category in the and sanitation systems and other public utilities within
System; the protected area;

b. To adopt and enforce a land use scheme and zoning o. Control occupancy of suitable portions of the
plan in adjoining areas for the preservation and control of protected area and resettle outside of said area forest
activities that may threaten the ecological balance in the occupants therein, with the exception of the members of
protected areas; indigenous communities area; and

c. To cause the preparation of and exercise the power to p. To perform such other functions as may be directed
review all plans and proposals for the management of by the President of the Philippines, and to do such acts
protected areas; as may be necessary or incidental to the
accomplishment of the purpose and objectives of the
d. To promulgate rules and regulations necessary to System.
carry out the provisions of this Act;
Section 11. Protected Area Management Board. – A
e. To deputize field officers and delegate any of his Protected Area Management Board for each of the
powers under this Act and other laws to expedite its established protected area shall be created and shall be
implementation and enforcement; composed of the following: The Regional Executive
Director under whose jurisdiction the protected area is
f. To fix and prescribe reasonable NIPAS fees to be located; one (1) representative from the autonomous
collected from government agencies or any person, firm regional government, if applicable; the Provincial
or corporation deriving benefits from the protected areas; Development Officer; one (1) representative from the
municipal government; one (1) representative from each
g. To exact administrative fees and fines as authorized in barangay covering the protected area; one (1)
Section 21 for violation of guidelines, rules and representative from each tribal community, if applicable;
regulations of this Act as would endanger the viability of and, at least three (3) representatives from non-
protected areas; government organizations/local community
organizations, and if necessary, one (1) representative
from other departments or national government agencies
h. To enter into contracts and/or agreements with private
involved in protected area management.
entities or public agencies as may be necessary to carry
out the purposes of this Act;
The Board shall, by a majority vote, decide the
allocations for budget, approve proposals for funding,
i. To accept in the name of the Philippine Government
decide matters relating to planning, peripheral protection
and in behalf of NIPAS funds, gifts or bequests of money
and general administration of the area in accordance
for immediate disbursements or other property in the
with the general management strategy. The members of
interest of the NIPAS, its activities or its services;
the Board shall serve for a term of five (5) years without
compensation, except for actual and necessary traveling
4

j. To call on any agency or instrumentality of the and subsistence expenses incurred in the performance
Page

Government as well as academic institutions, non-

government organizations and the private sector as may
of their duties. They shall be appointed by the Secretary Section 14. Survey for Energy Resources. – Consistent
of the DENR as follows: with the policies declared in Section 2 hereof, protected
areas, except strict nature reserves and natural parks,
a. A member who shall be appointed to represent each may be subjected to exploration only for the purpose of
local government down to barangay level whose territory gathering information on energy resources and only if
or portion is included in the protected area. Each such activity is carried out with the least damage to
appointee shall be the person designated by the head of surrounding areas. Surveys shall be conducted only in
such LGU, except for the Provincial Development Officer accordance with a program approved by the DENR, and
who shall serve ex officio; the result of such surveys shall be made available to the
public and submitted to the President for
recommendation to Congress. Any exploitation and
b. A member from non-government organizations who
utilization of energy resources found within NIPAS areas
shall be endorsed by heads of organizations which are
shall be allowed only through a law passed by Congress.
preferably based in the area or which have established
and recognized interest in protected areas;
Section 15. Areas Under the Management of Other
Departments and Government Instrumentalities. –
c. The RED/s in the region/s where such protected area
Should there be protected areas, or portions thereof,
lies shall sit as ex officio member of the Board and shall
under the jurisdiction of government instrumentalities
serve as adviser/s in matters related to the technical
other than the DENR, such jurisdiction shall, prior to the
aspect of management of the area; and
passage of this Act, remain in the said department or
government instrumentality; Provided, That the
d. The RED shall act as chairman of the Board. When department or government instrumentality exercising
there are two (2) or more REDs in the Board, the administrative jurisdiction over said protected area or a
Secretary shall designate one (1) of them to be the portion thereof shall coordinate with the DENR in the
Chairman. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner preparation of its management plans, upon the effectivity
as the original appointment. of this Act.

Section 12. Environmental Impact Assessment. – Section 16. Integrated Protected Areas Fund. – There is
Proposals for activities which are outside the scope of hereby established a trust fund to be known as
the management plan for protected areas shall be Integrated Protected Areas (IPAS) Fund for purposes of
subject to an environmental impact assessment as financing projects of the System. The IPAS may solicit
required by law before they are adopted, and the results and receive donations, endowments, and grants in the
thereof shall be taken into consideration in the decision- form of contributions, and such endowment shall be
making process. exempted from income or gift taxes and all other taxes,
charges or fees imposed by the Government or any
No actual implementation of such activities shall be political subdivision or instrumentality thereof.
allowed without the required Environmental Compliance
Certificate (ECC) under the Philippine Environmental All incomes generated from the operation of the System
Impact Assessment (EIA) system. In instances where or management of wild flora and fauna shall accrue to
such activities are allowed to be undertaken, the the Fund and may be utilized directly by the DENR for
proponent shall plan and carry them out in such manner the above purpose. These incomes shall be derived
as will minimize any adverse effects and take preventive from:
and remedial action when appropriate. The proponent
shall be liable for any damage due to lack of caution or
a. Taxes from the permitted sale and export of flora and
indiscretion.
fauna and other resources from protected areas;
Section 13. Ancestral Lands and Rights Over Them. –
b. Proceeds from lease of multiple use areas;
Ancestral lands and customary rights and interest arising
shall be accorded due recognition. The DENR shall
prescribe rules and regulations to govern ancestral lands c. Contributions from industries and facilities directly
within protected areas: Provided, that the DENR shall benefiting from the protected area; and
have so power to evict indigenous communities from
their present occupancy nor resettle them to another d. Such other fees and incomes derived from the
area without their consent: Provided, however, That all operation of the protected area. Disbursements from the
rules and regulations, whether adversely affecting said Funds shall be made solely for the protection,
communities or not, shall be subjected to notice and maintenance, administration, and management of the
hearing to be participated in by members of concerned System, and duly approved projects endorsed by the
indigenous community. PAMBs, in the amounts authorized by the DENR.
5
Page
Section 17. Annual Report to Congress. – At the h. Leaving in exposed or unsanitary conditions refuse or
opening of each session of Congress, the DENR shall debris, or depositing in ground or in bodies of water; and
report to the President, for transmission to Congress, on
the status of the System, regulation in force and other i. Altering, removing destroying or defacing boundary
pertinent information, together with recommendations. marks or signs.

Section 18. Field Officers. – All officials, technical Section 21. Penalties. – Whoever violates this Act or
personnel and forest guards employed in the integrated any rules and regulations issued by the Department
protected area service or all persons deputized by the pursuant to this Act or whoever is found guilty by a
DENR, upon recommendation of the Management Board competent court of justice of any of the offenses in the
shall be considered as field officers and shall have the preceding section shall be fined in the amount of not less
authority to investigate and search premises and than Five thousand pesos (P5,000) nor more than Five
buildings and make arrests in accordance with the rules hundred thousand pesos (P500,000), exclusive of the
on criminal procedure for the violation of laws and value of the thing damaged or imprisonment for not less
regulations relating to the protected areas. Persons than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, or
arrested shall be brought to the nearest police precinct both, as determined by the court: Provided, that, if the
for investigation. area requires rehabilitation or restoration as determined
by the court, the offender shall be required to restore or
Nothing herein mentioned shall be construed as compensate for the restoration to the damages:
preventing regular law enforcers and police officers from Provided, further, that court shall order the eviction of the
arresting any person in the act of violating said laws and offender from the land and the forfeiture in favor of the
regulations. Government of all minerals, timber or any species
collected or removed including all equipment, devices
Section 19. Special Prosecutors. – The Department of and firearms used in connection therewith, and any
Justice shall designate special prosecutors to prosecute construction or improvement made thereon by the
violations of laws, rules and regulations in protected offender. If the offender is an association or corporation,
areas. the president or manager shall be directly responsible for
the act of his employees and laborers: Provided, finally,
that the DENR may impose administrative fines and
Section 20. Prohibited Acts. – Except as may be
penalties consistent with this Act.
allowed by the nature of their categories and pursuant to
rules and regulations governing the same, the following
acts are prohibited within protected areas: Section 22. Separability Clause. – If any part or section
of this Act is declared unconstitutional, such declaration
shall not affect the other parts or sections of this Act.
a. Hunting, destroying, disturbing, or mere possession of
any plants or animals or products derived therefrom
without a permit from the Management Board; Section 23. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential
decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
inconsistent with any provisions of this Act shall be
b. Dumping of any waste products detrimental to the
deemed repealed or modified accordingly.
protected area, or to the plants and animals or
inhabitants therein;
Section 24. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take
effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in
c. Use of any motorized equipment without a permit from
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
the Management Board;

Approved,
d. Mutilating, defacing or destroying objects of natural
beauty, or objects of interest to cultural communities (of
scenic value);

e. Damaging and leaving roads and trails in a damaged

condition;

f. Squatting, mineral locating, or otherwise occupying

any land;

g. Constructing or maintaining any kind of structure,

fence or enclosures, conducting any business enterprise
6

without a permit;
Page