Stronger governance for Sierra Madre protected area pushed

LUCENA CITY — The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) convened on Thursday, July 2, to discuss measures aimed at strengthening the conservation and management of the protected area.

The board oversees a protected national park, wildlife sanctuary, and game preserve spanning portions of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Quezon in the Sierra Madre mountain range.

In a report, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Calabarzon said board members tackled issues involving the protection of the area, compliance with environmental laws, and the rights and welfare of indigenous peoples and other affected communities.

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The meeting, chaired by DENR-Calabarzon Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado, focused on improving the management of the protected area through the creation of a more effective executive committee and the updating of the board’s manual of operations to enhance decision-making and the implementation of its mandates.

The PAMB, a multisectoral body responsible for overseeing protected areas, also underscored the need for sustained coordination among government agencies, local government units, indigenous communities, and other stakeholders to ensure that all proposed projects and activities within the protected area comply with environmental laws and regulatory requirements.

The protected area was established in 1977 under Presidential Proclamation No. 1636, which declared portions of the Sierra Madre mountain range a national park, wildlife sanctuary, and game preserve covering areas in Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Quezon.

The protected area plays a crucial role in safeguarding vital watersheds, conserving biodiversity, and reducing the risks of flooding and landslides for communities within and beyond its boundaries.

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It also serves as a habitat for globally threatened wildlife species, an ancestral domain for indigenous peoples, a major source of freshwater, and a natural buffer against strong winds and typhoons. Its primary forests and diverse ecosystems likewise provide opportunities for sustainable ecotourism.

In May, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Real, Quezon, ordered a resort in neighboring Infanta to cease operations after it allegedly built facilities within the protected area without the required PAMB clearance and DENR permits.

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The resort was ordered to immediately stop all construction, maintenance, and business activities within the protected area and was fined P50,000 for the violation. INQ /mr

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