Biodiversity Management Bureau(DENRBMB)

1 April 2022 Dear Mr. Galman, This pertains to your request for the following information regarding the Protected Areas in the Philippines: 1. Allowable percentage of development in protected areas 2. Development Guidelines in Protected Areas 3. Development Management of Protected areas For the allowable percentage of development in protected areas, there is no specific guidelines or particular percent (%) limit for such development. However, Rule 25.1 of DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-05 provides that a Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA) may be issued to a proponent for the use and development of land, water and ecosystem resources or facilities within the Multiple Use Zones of the protected area, subject to compliance with the requirements of the Protected Area Management Plan, the Environmental Impact Statement System, and the payment of annual Development Fees. In addition, Rule 9.5 of the same DAO stipulates that Zoning shall be implemented in all protected areas as a strategy to effectively manage the ecosystems and landscapes/seascapes therein, in accordance with the objectives and principles of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The protected area shall be divided into Strict Protection Zones and Multiple Use Zones as follows: a. Strict Protection Zones which shall consist of one (1) or more of the following: 1. Natural vegetation or representative of any of the ecosystem types; 2. Habitats of endemic and threatened species, and biologically important areas, including sites for seasonal feeding, foraging, roosting, nesting, and breeding of wild fauna; 3. Areas prone to natural and man-made hazards; 4. Areas set aside as permanent danger zones; 5. Easements of inland wetlands such as lakes, rivers, creeks, etc.; 6. Class I caves and unclassified caves; 7. Sacred grounds or areas used by ICCs/IPs; and 8. Areas that require immediate rehabilitation to restore the vegetative cover to its original state. b. Areas intended as a Multiple Use Zone shall take into account the location of the following: 1. Areas where traditional or sustainable land and water use, including agriculture, agroforestry, aquaculture, the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) as determined by the IPs/ICCs, and other biodiversity-friendly livelihood activities of local communities and ICCs/IPs; 2. Areas of high environmental awareness, and recreational/ecotourism or educational values; 3. Areas of existing and proposed facilities/structures of national significance, such as rights of way, waterways, ports, navigational lanes, telecommunications, energy generation, and transmission lines; and 4. Existing settlements, community centers, and LGUs At the national level, development management within protected areas under the NIPAS is duly governed by Section 25 (Special Uses within Protected Areas) of DENR AO 2019-05 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7586 or the NIPAS Act of 1992, as amended by RA 11038 or the ENIPAS Act of 2018. Meanwhile, at the local or site level, all protected areas are required to formulate a Protected Area Management Plan which is shall serve as the basic long-term framework plan for the management of the protected area and guide in the preparation of its annual operations plan and budget. at Other relevant policies on Special Uses include DAO 2007-17 on the Rules and Regulations Governing Special Uses within Protected Areas and DAO 2018-05 on the Addendum to DAO 2007-17. All said policies are readily available at www.bmb.gov.ph for your reference. We hope that the above information serves your purpose. Respectfully, National Parks Division Decision Maker FOI Receiving Officer