House OKs Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a measure declaring the Northwest Panay Peninsula as a protected area.

The legislation known as “Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP) Act” was authored by Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco, Jr., Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab. 

The House voted to approve the House Bill No. 4125 that aims to conserve and protect the biological and physical diversities of Northwestern Panay Peninsula through sustainable and participatory management of the local governments of Aklan and Antique.

The protected area covers 12,009 hectares of the municipalities of Nabas, Malay and Buruanga in the province of Aklan and the municipalities of Pandan and Libertad in the province of Antique. 

The House has transmitted the approved bill to the Senate last week for deliberation. 

Under the bill, the management and administration of the NPPNP is vested in the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) working closely with the Northwest Panay Biodiversity Management Council (NPBMC), a coordinating body among member LGUs to strengthen policy direction and heighten the commitment of the communities within and bordering the natural park.

The members of PAMB are the regional director of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the governors of the provinces of Aklan and Antique,   the mayors of the municipalities of Nabas, Malay and Buruanga, Province of Aklan and the municipalities of Libertad and Pandan, Province of Antique and all punong barangays with territorial jurisdiction over the NPPNP.

Other members are three representatives from the NGOs based in the provinces of Aklan and Antique and at least seven people organizations duly accredited by the DENR. 

A fine or imprisonment will be imposed against the violator who hunts, collects, destroys, traps, disturbs or possesses anywhere within the NPPNP any wild plant or animal or product and also cuts, gathers, collects or removes timber or other forest products, without a prior PAMB permit. 

Other illegal acts prohibited in NPPNP are kaingin or slash-and-burn farming, treasure hunting and dumping, burning or disposing of any substance harmful to the ecosystem, plants and animals or human inhabitants.