Question & AnswerQ&A (POEA)
Republic Act No. 11684 is titled the "Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape Act".
The policy of the State is to secure for present and future generations the perpetual existence of native plants and animals within Mt. Arayat, ensuring its conservation, protection, management, and rehabilitation recognizing its biological richness and ecological importance.
Mt. Arayat is declared a protected area with the category of protected landscape under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
Buffer zones refer to identified areas outside and immediately adjacent to designated protected areas that require special development control to avoid or minimize harm to the protected area.
The PAMB includes the DENR Regional Executive Director, Governor of Pampanga, local Senators and Representatives or their representatives, mayors of Arayat and Magalang, barangay chairpersons with jurisdiction, regional directors of various government agencies, representatives from NGOs or POs, ICC/IP representatives, an academic institution representative, and a private sector representative.
The PAMB oversees management of Mt. Arayat, approves policies and plans, manages financial resources, issues rules and regulations, recommends deputations for law enforcement, monitors compliance, and assesses management effectiveness among other functions.
The PASu manages day-to-day operations, prepares and ensures implementation of management plans, provides secretariat services for the PAMB, enforces laws, issues permits, collects fees, and coordinates technical assistance, among other responsibilities.
MAPL-IPAF is a trust fund established for financing MAPL and NIPAS projects. It accrues income from fees related to flora, fauna, lease proceeds, contributions, and other income from the operation of Mt. Arayat.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of revenues are retained by the PAMB for Mt. Arayat's management and placed in the Protected Area-Retained Income Account, while the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) is deposited in the National Treasury for NIPAS projects.
The scope covers specific geographic coordinates and boundaries including two lots totaling approximately 3,726.50 hectares, situated in Barangay San Juan BaAo, Municipality of Arayat, Pampanga, detailed with specific boundary lines and corner points.
The National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 (Republic Act No. 7586), as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, applies suppletorily to this Act.
Members representing LGUs and national agencies who fail to comply with the Act or related policies may face disciplinary action according to administrative rules and regulations, alongside any penalties the PAMB may provide.
The Secretary of DENR, upon PAMB recommendation, may designate buffer zones surrounding Mt. Arayat to provide extra protection, with private landowners required to design developments in consideration of the protected area management plan.
The Secretary of DENR shall include implementation of this Act in the Department's program, with funding included in the annual General Appropriations Act.