AN ACT DECLARING THE WATERS SURROUNDING PANAON ISLAND SITUATED IN THE PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE, A PROTECTED SEASCAPE UNDER THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM, TO BE REFERRED TO AS THE PANAON ISLAND PROTECTED SEASCAPE, PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12238, August 29, 2025 ]

AN ACT DECLARING THE WATERS SURROUNDING PANAON ISLAND SITUATED IN THE PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE, A PROTECTED SEASCAPE UNDER THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM, TO BE REFERRED TO AS THE PANAON ISLAND PROTECTED SEASCAPE, PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Panaon Island Protected Seascape Act".

Section 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 in the Constitution.

In recognition of the richness of biological resources, both flora and fauna, that are native and distinct to the surrounding waters of Panaon Island, as well as their aesthetic and ecological importance, a parcel of land of the public domain located in the Municipalities of Liloan, Pintuyan, San Francisco, and San Ricardo in the Province of Southern Leyte, is hereby declared a protected area under the category of protected seascape and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Panaon Island Protected Seascape (PIPS). 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 the national government, local government units (LGUs), concerned non-governmental 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, and cultural and indigenous practices.

Section 3. Classification as a National Park. - The PIPS is composed of a waters surrounding the Panaon Island situated in the Municipalities of Liloan, Pintuyan, San Francisco, and San Ricardo in the Province of Southern Leyte, the metes and bounds of which are described in Section 4 of this Act. All lands of the public domain within the coverage and scope of the PIPS shall fall under the classification of a national park as provided for in Article XII, Section 3 of the Constitution.

Section 5. Scope and Coverage. - The PIPS shall cover the Municipalities of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo, Province of Southern Leyte.

Beginning at a point marked "1" on the map being N 81o04'54"E,1607.313 meters from PRS'92 Control Monument "LYS-7" with geographic coordinates of 10o9'35.928606" Latitude and 125o6'59.18374" Longitude located in Barangay Poblacion, Municipality of Liloan, Province of Southern Leyte,

from the point of beginning containing an area of sixty-one thousand two hundred four (61,204) hectares, more or less. Bearings and distances of lines were derived using the PRS 1992 Philippines Zone V coordinate system, subject to ground delineation and demarcation. The geographic coordinates of the control monument "LYS-7" are based on re-observed data.

The Certification from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) containing the boundaries and technical descriptions of the PIPS is hereby adopted and made an integral part of this Act. In case of inconsistency, the boundaries and technical descriptions in the attached Certification shall prevail.

Any modification of the scope and coverage of the PIPS in this Act shall be made through an act of Congress, after consultation with the government agencies and stakeholders concerned.

Section 5. Establishment of Buffer Zones. - The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), upon the recommendation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) created under Section 7 of this Act, may designate areas surrounding the PIPS as buffer zones for the purpose of providing an extra layer of protection where restrictions may be applied: Provided, That in cases where restrictions the designated buffer zone would cover private lands, the owners thereof shall be required to design their development with due consideration to the PIPS management plan.

Section 6. Strict Protection Zone. - An area declared in accordance with the PIPS management plan, possessing some outstanding ecosystem, features, and species of flora and fauna of national scientific importance should be maintained to protect and to preserve nature in its undisturbed state and to preserve ecologically representative examples of the natural environment to ensure their availability for scientific study, environmental monitoring, education, and for the maintenance of genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state.

ARTICLE II
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Section 7. Protected Area Management Board. - Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) shall be created to oversee the management of the PIPS. The PAMB shall be composed of the following:

The terms of office of PAMB members, 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".

Section 8. Powers and Functions of the PAMB. - The PAMB shall have the following powers and functions:

Section 9. The Protected Area Management Office. - 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 PIPS. 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 PIPS

The PASu shall be primarily accountable to the PAMB and the DENR for the management and operations of the PIPS. Pursuant to thereto, the PASU shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

The PAMO may be augmented by the deputized local environment and natural resources officers upon the recommendation of the PAMB and approval of the DENR.

ARTICLE III
PROCEEDS AND FEES

Section 10. Panaon Island Protected Seascape-Integrated Area Fund. - There is hereby established a trust fund to be known as the Panaon Island Protected Seascape-Integrated Protected Area Fund (PIPS-IPAF) for purposes of financing projects and sustaining the operation of the PIPS and the NIPAS. All income generated from the operation and management of PIPS shall accrue to the PIPS-IPAF. The income shall be derived from fees and charges from the use of resources and facilities of the PIPS, and such other fees and income derived from the operation of the PIPS.

The PAMB shall retain seventy-five percent (75%) of all revenues raised through the above means, which shall be deposited in the 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 PIPS and implementation of duly approved projects of the PAMB.

The remaining twenty-five (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 in 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 for duly approved projects endorsed by the PAMB in accordance with existing accounting, budgeting, and auditing rules and regulations: Provided, further, That the funds shall not be used to cover personal services expenditures.

The LGUs shall continue to impose and collect all other fees not enumerated herein which they have traditionally collected, such as for business permits, property tax, and rentals of LGUs' facilities.

ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 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.

Section 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.

Section 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 government of the Municipalities of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo, the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte, and concerned national government agencies, issue the corresponding rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Section 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid,other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are contrary or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 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,

This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 2617 on December 16, 2024 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 9396 on February 4, 2025.

Approved: AUG 29 2025

(SGD.) FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR.
President of the Philippines