Mining Areas Excluded from Quirino Protected Landscape

Proclamation No. 779 dated February 6, 2005, which takes effect April 18, 2005, excludes certain areas covered by valid and existing mining tenements from the QPL.
This exclusion is based on the recognition of mining tenements that predate the protected area proclamation.
The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources recommended the exclusion.
The President of the Philippines exercised the power vested by law to amend the boundaries of QPL accordingly.

The QPL boundaries were revised to exclude the lands within valid mining tenements.
The amended QPL area consists of three parcels described with precise geographic coordinates and bearings:
- Parcel I: Approximately 613.7041 hectares
- Parcel II: Approximately 10,965.4526 hectares
- Parcel III: Approximately 164,364.4606 hectares
Each parcel’s boundary is detailed through corner points, directions, distances, and latitude-longitude readings.
These detailed technical descriptions ensure clear demarcation and legal certainty of the protected landscape boundaries after exclusion.

The amendment and exclusion are pursuant to the powers of the President under the law and upon the DENR Secretary’s recommendation.
The boundaries are subject to ground survey and delineation for practical implementation.

The proclamation respects existing private rights, particularly mining tenements, thereby balancing environmental protection and property rights.
The exclusion ensures mining operations with valid tenements are not impeded by the protected area designation.
This legal approach aims to harmonize environmental conservation goals with existing lawful economic activities.

The amended proclamation is signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita.
The document carries the seal of the Republic of the Philippines.
The proclamation is dated February 3, 2005, in Manila, formalizing the amendment and exclusion measures.