Director Bambalan, PAMB chairperson, urged the PAMB members to seriously plan for programs and activities for the betterment of the MPL. “We have to work hard for the MPL to become a legislated protected area,” she said as she underscored the need to develop a strategic plan that would guide in program implementation.

 

“Kailangan nating bumuno ng plano for the protected area. We have to discuss as PAMB on how to generate income to support the operation and management of the protected area,” the PAMB chairperson said adding that whatever income to be generated shall accrue to the Integrated Protected Area Fund.

 

Formerly Magapit Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary, the MPL was declared as a protected area by virtue of Proclamation No. 285 issued in 2000. The 3,403.62-hectare protected area is situated in the municipalities of Gattaran and Lal-lo in Cagayan covering 12 barangays.

 

In the meeting, Chairperson Bambalan asked the barangay captains to help in the protection of the MPL against timber poaching and kaingin. “Please help us disseminate to your constituents that this area in your barangay is a timberland and is within a protected area and therefore, in accordance with existing policy, titles are not legally permissible,” she emphasized.

 

Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Officer Robert Adap discussed in the meeting the need for the deployment of additional forest protection officers in the protected area. He also reported the proposed forging of a co-management agreement among the DENR, Cagayan Provincial Local Government and the Municipal Local Government Unit of Lal-lo for the 263-hectare National Greening Program site within the MPL.

 

The PAMB Manual of Operations was unanimously approved during the meeting.#