Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. has highlighted the importance of the new law that effectively declared Mt. Arayat in Arayat town as a protected landscape or area.
Gonzales was referring to Republic Act (RA) No.11684, which the former deputy speaker principally authored.
“The law will enable the national government, through the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DENR), the provincial government of Pampanga and the towns of Arayat and Magalang, where the mountain is located, to conserve and preserve its natural resources, cultural significance and tourism potential for the benefit of our people,” Gonzales said.
He said the DENR, in tandem with the local government units (LGUs), could promote the mountain and nearby communities as tourist destinations.
“They could also encourage small-scale farming, mountain climbing, hiking, biking, and similar activities. We have good roads leading to the protected area, as well as good infrastructure there,” he said.
Under the law, the DENR secretary could designate buffer zones as additional layer of protection to the Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape (MAPL).
In case the designated buffer areas affect private lands, the landowners would be required to design their development with due consideration to the MAPL management plan.
The protected landscape would be managed by a board headed by the DENR regional director and composed of senators who are residents of Pampanga, district representatives of LGUs where Mt. Arayat is located, and representatives of concerned LGUs and government agencies, including the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Agriculture (DA).
While Arayat is part of Gonzales’ constituency, the town of Magalang belongs to the 1st district.
The management board could charge reasonable fees for the use of MAPL facilities. Collections would go to a trust fund for the maintenance and development of the area.
The DENR secretary is mandated to include additional funding for the MAPL in his annual budget proposal to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and to Congress.
Gonzales thanked President Duterte for signing RA No.11684.