Ang Pahayagan

TARLAC CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12237, officially declaring a parcel of land in the municipalities of Mayantoc and San Jose, Tarlac as the Mt. Sawtooth Protected Landscape (MSPL) under the National Integrated Protected Areas System.

This law, which designates Mt. Sawtooth as the only legislated protected area in the entire province of Tarlac, provides for the creation of a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) and a Protected Area Superintendent under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to oversee its governance and sustainable management.

The PAMB will be composed of representatives from national and local government units, indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector.

Additionally, a dedicated Protected Area Management Office will be established to implement conservation programs and manage day-to-day operations.

DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo underscored the significance of the law, saying, “This declaration is a testament to our commitment to safeguarding the country’s natural heritage. Mt. Sawtooth is not only a vital ecological corridor but also a symbol of community-led stewardship and inter-agency collaboration.”

The MSPL covers approximately 12,676 hectares of biologically rich terrain, hosting a diverse range of native and endemic species.

A Protected Area Suitability Assessment and a biological survey conducted in 2019 by the Institute of Biology at the University of the Philippines Diliman confirmed the presence of various species, including the Mottled-winged Flying Fox, Orange-fingered Myotis, and Rhyncomys tapulao.

The area is also home to globally threatened species such as the Golden-capped Fruit Bat, Northern Rufous Hornbill, Philippine Deer, Luzon Bleeding-heart, Luzon Ranged Frog, and Warty Pig.

RA 12237 further mandates the delineation of buffer zones, mobilization of scientific and technical support, and establishment of a trust fund to finance protection, rehabilitation, and long-term management efforts within the MSPL.

Tarlac Governor Christian Tell Yap hailed the signing as “a historic day for the province of Tarlac” and encouraged the public to contribute to the safeguarding of Mt. Sawtooth.

“Sama-sama po nating pangalagaan ang Mt. Sawtooth, isang pamana para sa kasalukuyan at sa susunod na henerasyon (Let us all work together to take care of Mt. Sawtooth, a heritage for the present and future generations),” he stated in a Facebook post.

The enactment of this law strengthens the country’s biodiversity conservation and climate resilience, while safeguarding one of Central Luzon’s most important natural landscapes. (PIA 3)

📸 A parcel of land in Mayantoc and San Jose, Tarlac declared as the Mt. Sawtooth Protected Landscape under the National Integrated Protected Areas System through Republic Act No. 12237 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Provincial Government of Tarlac)