Mt. Pulag, 4 others declared protected areas

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has enacted five laws declaring certain areas in Luzon and Mindanao as protected areas with the category of protected landscape.

The laws were signed on April 8, documents released by Malacañang yesterday showed.

Republic Act 11684 declared the Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape while areas in Kabayan, Bokod and Buguias in Benguet as well as in Tinoc, Ifugao and Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya were declared as Mt. Pulag Protected Landscape under RA 11685.

The Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape in Naga and Kabasalan in Zamboanga Sibugay was declared under RA 11686;  portions of Gregorio del Pilar, Quirino, Sigay, Cervantes and Suyo in Ilocos Sur as Tirad Pass Protected Landscape under RA 11687, and Balbalan in Kalinga as Banao Protected Landscape  under RA 11688.

The laws define a protected area as a portion of land and water “set aside by reason of its unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation. ”