Section 15Sec./Art. 15

The Office of the PASu. - There shall be an office of the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) within the DENR to be headed by the PASu who shall serve as the chief operating DENR officer of the entire NSMNP and its buffer zones. The PASu and his/her staff shall reside within the protected area and establish an office, or if necessary, sub-offices within the NSMNP and its buffer zones in order to implement this Act.

The PASu shall have full responsibility for the protection of land, water, wildlife and other resources within the NSMNP. As such, he shall have the following duties and responsibilities in addition to those provided under existing laws and regulations:

(a)Prepare the management plan and its successor plans as herein provided;

(b)Serve as secretariat to the PAMB with the duty to provide the PAMB with all the information necessary to make appropriate decisions for the implementation of this Act;

(c)Hire and supervise the necessary personnel to support operations as the budget may allow;

(d)Establish a productive partnership with local communities, including groups supporting the achievement of the goals and objectives of this Act;

(e)Develop and implement park information, education and visitor programs;

(f)Enforce the laws, rules and regulations and PAMB resolutions relevant to the protected area and its buffer zones, and assist in the prosecution of offenses;

(g)Monitor all activities within the NSMNP and its buffer zones in conformity with the management plan; and

(h)Perform such other functions as the PAMB may assign.

ARTICLE IV

ANCESTRAL LANDS AND DOMAINS AND TENURED MIGRANTS