Section 8Sec./Art. 8

Section 10 of Republic Act No. 7586 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 10. Administration and Management of the System. - The National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) is hereby placed under the control and administration of the DENR through the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB).

"To carry out the mandate of this Act, the secretary of the DENR is empowered to perform the following acts:

"(a) Issue a system-wide set of rules and regulations to implement the provision of this Act;

"(b) Set standards, procedures, and protocols for the establishment and management of protected areas and the System, such as, but not limited to conduct of study, zoning, review of plans and project proposals, specifications and types of buildings and other structures, and installation of uniform markers and symbols;

"(c) Deputize field officers and other technical and support personnel;

"(d) Determine a system-wide set of fees and charges to ensure sustainable financing of protected areas and the System;

"(e) Impose administrative fines and penalties;

"(f) Report on the status of the Integrated Protected Area Fund (IPAF), its collection of fees, and disbursements from the IPAF;

"(g) Designate the appropriate Chairperson of each PAMB;

"(h) Enter into contracts and/or agreements with private entities or public agencies as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of the System;

"(i) Accept in the name of the Philippine Government and in behalf of NIPAS funds, gifts or bequest of money for immediate disbursements or other property in the interest of the NIPAS, its activities or its services;

"(j) Call on any agency or instrumentality of the Government as well as academic institutions, NGOs and the private sector as may be necessary to accomplish the objectives and activities of the System;

"(k) Submit an annual report to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and to Congress on the status of protected areas in the country;

"(l) Oversee and set guidelines in the construction, operations and maintenance of roads, trails, waterworks, sewerage systems, fire protection, sanitation systems and other public utilities within the protected area;

"(m) Within the limits allowed by existing laws, rules and regulations ensure that settlement areas inside the protected area shall not be expanded and that coverage shall only be limited to the original area/s occupied by tenured migrants and indigenous communities; and

"(n) Perform such other functions as may be directed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, and to do cuh acts as may be necessary to the accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of the System."