Rappler
New laws seek to protect Tarlac’s Mt. Sawtooth, Panaon Island in Southern Leyte
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law two Republic Acts, RA 12237 and RA 12238, designating specific areas in Tarlac and Southern Leyte as protected zones under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
RA 12237 establishes the Mt. Sawtooth Protected Landscape, covering 10,967.96 hectares in Mayantoc and San Jose, Tarlac.
This Tarlac area requires protection as assessments confirmed the presence of endemic species like the Mottle-winged flying fox, Orange-fingered myotis, and Rhynchomys tapulao, which are all native to Mount Tapulao.
Globally threatened species such as the Golden-capped fruit bat, Northern Rufous Hornbill, Philippine Deer, Luzon Bleeding-heart, Luzon Fanged Frog, and Warty pig are also found in this area.
RA 12238 establishes the waters surrounding Panaon Island in Southern Leyte as the Panaon Island Protected Seascape.
These declarations acknowledge the environmental impact of human activities and aim to preserve ecologically important flora and fauna.
The new laws also provide for the establishment of Protected Area Management Boards (PAMBs) to oversee these areas, chaired by the DENR regional executive director and composed of various agency and local government representatives.
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