LGU chiefs reminded of PAMB membership

CEBU, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is reminding all local chief executives that their membership to the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) is mandatory.

Remulla issued a memorandum circular the other day addressed to all Provincial governors, mayors, as well as to all Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional, provincial, city, and municipal local government operations officers, among others on the ex-officio membership of local chief executives to PAMB.

The PAMB is the decision making body created by RA 7586 which exercises jurisdiction over protected areas.

Under section 9 of the Republic Act No.11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas system (NIPAS) Act of 2018, PAMB involves the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional director, governor of a province, a senator, district representative, mayors, and barangay chairpersons where the protected area is located. For senators and congressmen, they may be included if they are a resident of a protected area.

Regional directors of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of National Defense (DND) are also part of PAMB.

The PAMB should also include three representatives from either a non-government organization or People’s Organization that are duly accredited both by the DENR and the provincial government, as well as a representative from the Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Cultural Communities, the academe, and private sector.

“As ex-officio members, all Local Chief Executives (Governors,City/Municipal Mayors, Punong Barangays) are reminded that their membership to the PAMB is MANDATORY,” part of the memo reads.

Governors and mayors, however, may appoint duly authorized representatives to the said board.

The non-observance of the provisions outlined under Section 9 and refusal to perform the roles and responsibilities under Section 11-A of Republic Act No.7586 as amended by Republic Act No.11038 “are grounds for administrative disciplinary actions” Remulla stressed.

“In line with this, Governors, City, and Municipal Mayors are reminded of their mandate to discharge the powers and functions granted to them by law, express, implied, and necessary, to ensure that the laws, rules, and regulations are faithfully implemented and complied with by the elective officials under their supervision,” Remulla added.

The PAMB’s two major functions are site-specific policy and rule-making and administrative functions, though they may also be granted additional powers, authorities, and functions as may be provided by the specific law declaring the protected area under NIPAS.

As policy and rule-makers, they are to recommend fees, and other charges for the use of a protected area, develop strategies and buffer zones, review and update the PA management plan, issue clearances, and set allowance limits for the volume of trees that may be extracted.

On the administrative functions, they are to approve policies, guidelines, plans, programs proposal among others, as well as facilitate the ground delineation and demarcation of boundaries of protected areas and buffer zone, ensure the management of the protected area is incorporated into the comprehensive land use, and implement and evaluate progress in the implementation of the management plan among others.

All DILG directors are also expected to disseminate the memo to the concerned LGU officials. – /ATO (FREEMAN)