MALACAÑANG
MANILA

PROCLAMATION NO. 882

AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NO. 59 DATED MAY 9, 1936 BY DECLARING CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN COVERING MT. APO SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF KIDAPAWAN, MAKILALA AND MAGPET IN THE PROVINCE OF COTABATO; BANSALAN, DIGOS, STA. CRUZ, IN THE PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL SUR AND IN THE CITY OF DAVAO, ISLAND OF MINDANAO AS PROTECTED AREA UNDER THE CATEGORY OF NATURAL PARK

Upon the recommendation of the Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and pursuant to the power vested upon me by law, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, do hereby set aside and declare certain parcels of land of public domain covering Mt. Apo situated in the municipalities of Kidapawan, Makilala and Magpet in the province of Cotabato; Bansalan, Digos, Sta Cruz, in the province of Davao del Sur and in the city of Davao, island of Mindanao, subject to prior private rights, if any, as Protected Area under the category of Natural Park and portions of its peripheral areas as Buffer Zone.

The technical description provided hereunder is based on a table survey and therefore subject to ground survey and verification to be conducted by the DENR, for which additional funds are to be requested for the purpose from the Department of Budget and Management.

THE NATURAL PARK

Bounded on the North Northeast within the Davao City side from point 243 to point 246 by a timberland under Project No. 1-M of LC map 1904 and Project No. 2-B certified on November 22, 1923; and an alienable and disposable land from point 246 to 250 to point 1, thence to point 26 under Project Nos. 1-X, 1-A-B, 2-A, 2, I-L and 1-B of LC map Nos. 2565, 2903, 763, 563, 1610, and LC map 1412; on the Southeast South directions within the Municipalities of Sta. Cruz and Digos Davao del Sur along point 26 to 99 by its buffer zone (Parcel 1), thence along point 99 to point 103 by the Ruparan Creek and an alienable and disposable land under project Nos. 5 and 5-A LC map Nos. 247 and 760, thence along point 103 to point 126 by is buffer zone (Parcel 2); on the Southwest direction within the Municipality of Bansalan, Davao del Sur, along point 126 to point 162 by its buffer zone (Parcel 2); on the West and Northwest North directions within the Municipalities of Makilala and Kidapawan, all of Cotabato from point 162 to point 239, thence to point 243 by a Public Forest. Beginning at a point marked “1” on the map and on the ground, being at the junction of Saro and Lidapas Rivers; Thence, following Lidapas River upstream generally in southwesterly direction of about 3,300 meters straight distance to point 2, a point at the south bank of Lidapas River;

Thence, following Longon Creek (2nd) downstream generally in northeasterly, direction of about 1,500 meters straight distance to point 6

Thence, following Lapuy creek upstream generally in southwesterly direction of about 1,100 meters straight distance to point 10

Thence, following Gumate river downstream generally in northeasterly direction of about 2,250 meters straight distance to point 13

Thence, following Walaway creek downstream generally in northeasterly direction of about 1,125 meters straight distance to point 15

Thence, following Bato creek upstream generally in southwesterly direction of about 2,500 meters straight distance to point 16

Thence, following Baracatan River downstream generally in southeasterly direction of about 450 meters straight distance to point 21

Thence, following Tagulaya River downstream generally in southeasterly direction of about 550 meters straight distance to point 35

Thence, following Calagan and Ruparan creeks downstream generally in southeasterly direction of about 2,000 meters straight distance to point 100

Thence, following Ruraparan Creek downstream generally in southerly direction of about 1,200 meters straight distance to point 101

Thence, following Ruparan creek downstream generally in southeasterly direction of about 2,000 meters straight distance to point 102

Thence, following Ruparan river downstream generally in southwesterly direction of about 3,600 meters to point 103

Thence, following Guma river upstream generally in Northwesterly direction of about 550 meters straight distance to point 116

Thence, following Balagonon stream downstream generally in westerly direction of about 450 meters straight distance to point 169

Thence, following Talomo river downstream generally in northeasterly direction of about 7,980 meters straight distance to point 245

Thence, following Talomo river downstream generally in northeasterly direction of about 1,220 meters straight distance to point 246

Thence, following Taguy River upstream generally in southerly direction of about 2,325 meters straight distance to point 247

Thence, following Saro River downstream generally in northeasterly direction about 5,300 meters straight distance to point 250

Thence, following Saro River downstream generally in easterly direction about 1,350 meters straight distance to point 1.

BUFFER ZONE (PARCEL 1)

Bounded on the East Southeast direction within the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur from point 26 to point 58 alienable land under Project Nos. 247 respectively; on the south within the Municipality of Digos, Davao Del Sur along point 58 to point 63 by alienable and disposable land under Project No. 5-A, LC Map 760 certified on July 27, 1928; from point 63 to point 135 to point 1 by Mt. Apo Natural Park. Beginning from a point marked “1” on the map and on the ground being identical to point 26 of Mt. Apo Natural Park protected area.

Thence, following Dolis creek downstream generally in southeasterly direction of about 4,050 meters straight distance to point 2

Thence, following Tagulaya River upstream generally in northwesterly direction of about 550 meters straight distance to point 128

BUFFER ZONE (PARCEL 2)

Bounded on the South and Southwest direction within the Municipality of Digos, Davao del Sur from point 1 to point 2 by Ruparan Creek and alienable and disposable land and along point 2 to point 13 by Project No. 5, Block 1, alienable or disposable per L.C. Map No. 247 certified on September 18, 1924, along point 13 to point 14 within the Municipality of Matanao, Davao del Sur by Project No. 27-A, alienable and disposable land per L.C. Map 1963 certified on February 04, 1956; along point 14 to point 38 within the Municipality of Bansalan, Davao del Sur by alienable and disposable land under Project Nos. 27-A per L.C. Map 1963 certified on February 04, 1956; on the West, Northwest and North directions within the Municipalities of Makilala and Kidapawan, all of Cotabato along point 38 to point 140 by alienable or disposable land under Project Nos. 41-A and Project 42-D and from point 140 to point 157 by a Timberland and a Public Forest per L.C. Map No. 1661 certified on June 01, 1953; from point 157 to point 1 by Mt. Apo Natural Park. Beginning at a point marked “1” on the map and on the ground being identical to point 144 of Project No. 5, Block 1, alienable or disposable land;

Thence, following Ruparan Creek downstream generally in southwesterly direction of about  ,050 meters straight distance to point 2

Thence, following the provincial boundary line of Davao del Sur and Cotabato per L.C. Project generally in Northeasterly direction of about 4,160 meters straight distance to point 30;

Thence, Following Darapuay Stream upstream generally in Northerly direction of about 410 meters straight distance to point 43;

Thence, following Saguing river upstream generally in a southwesterly direction of about 2.300 meters to point 112;

Thence, following small Mateo River downstream generally in Northwesterly direction of about 200 meters straight distance to point 123;

Thence, following small Mateo River downstream generally in northwesterly direction of about 150 meters straight distance to 124;

Thence, following Balagono stream generally in easterly direction of about 450 meters straight distance to point 227;

Thence, following Guma river downstream generally in southeasterly direction of about 550 meters straight distance to point 280;

Containing an area of approximately SEVENTY TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN (72,113) hectares.

Mt. Apo shall be known as “Mt. Apo Natural Park ” and its peripheral areas as Buffer Zone (Parcel 1 and Parcel 2). The subject area shall remain under the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and shall be administered by the Protected Area Management Board as constituted pursuant to R.A. 7586 otherwise known as the NIPAS Act of 1992 and its implementing rules and regulations.

The purpose for the establishment of the Natural Park is to protect and conserve the ecological, biological, scientific and educational features of the area. The peripheral Buffer Zone is established to serve as an extra layer of protection for the Park and certain areas thereof as sites for livelihood projects and sustainable resource utilization.

Insofar as the rules and regulations over national parks are consistent with the provisions of NIPAS Act, they shall continue to apply until Congress shall otherwise declare. All other applicable laws shall remain in full force and effect.

The DENR shall prioritize the implementation of the General Management Planning Strategy (GMPS), boundary relocation and the appointment of the Protected Area Staff in the area covered.

A person qualifying for a tenured migrant status as of the effectivity of the NIPAS Act shall be eligible to become a steward of a portion of land within the appropriate management zone of the protected area, and from which he may derive subsistence.

The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) appointed by the Secretary shall perform such powers and duties as specified in the NIPAS Act and as delegated to it by the Secretary under such Act. All decisions made pursuant to these rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of acts of a final PAMB under the NIPAS Act.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 24^Th day of September, in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Six.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS

By the President:
(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary