Section 11Sec./Art. 11

The Protected Area Superintendent Office. There shall be a Protected Area Superintendent Office for Mt. Apo Natural Park within the DENR headed by the Protected Area Superintendent who shall serve as the chief operating officer of the protected area. The Protected Area Superintendent Office shall have the following powers and functions:

A. Administrative

(1)Serve as chief administrative officer of the protected area for the purpose of implementing the Management Plan as detailed in the annual work program;

(2) Establish a productive partnership with the local community, including groups, in the planning, protection and management of the protected area;

(3) Ensure the performance and good morale of his staff;

(4) Ensure the proper utilization of annual budget allocations and the proper disposition of fees and other funds generated within the protected area;

(5) Develop and implement a park information, education and visitor program;

(6) Develop and implement a natural history documentation program and to oversee research that may be conducted within the area;

(7) Integrate the roles of NGO and DENR staff in the operation of the area; and

(8) Document the processes involved in the establishment and management of the protected area, with particular reference to the development of relationships with cultural communities, tenured migrants, buffer zone residents and others in establishing effective protection of the area.

B. Regulative

(1) To act as peace officer for the purpose of maintaining peace and order within the protected area. As peace officer, he shall exercise police supervision therein and may arrest any person found in any place within protected areas who is committing, has committed, or is about to commit an offense which is prohibited in this Act;

(2) Enforce rules and regulations established to protect the area and preserve the area from trespass, damage, injury and illegal occupancy;

(3) Require, when necessary, any person entering or passing through or any part of the protected area under his jurisdiction, to give the following information: name, address, the proposed duration of stay inside the protected area and the portion which he intends to visit or has visited and such other information of similar nature as may be referred to him;

(4) Summarily remove or eject from the area persons who have rendered themselves obnoxious by disorderly conduct or bad behavior or who have violated any of the regulations on the protected area;

(5) Require persons cutting and/or gathering forest products or hunting or fishing within the protected area to produce, upon demand, authority or permit to do so;

(6) Seize and confiscate timber or other forest products, game birds, animals, and fish, including instruments, tools and conveyances used inside the protected area by unlicensed persons, or if licensed, in violation of protected area laws, rules and regulations, and to report them in accordance with the present rules, regulations and guidelines issued by the Secretary concerning confiscation, seizure and disposition of illegally cut, gathered, transported forest products, and other natural resources and confiscated wildlife; and

(7) Perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed by higher authorities.

The Protected Area Superintendent Office shall be supported by a sufficient number of personnel who shall be performing day-to-day management, protection and administration of the protected area.

All DENR employees detailed with the protected area at the time of the effectivity of this Act shall be accorded preference to form part of the Protected Area Superintendent Office.

CHAPTER III

ANCESTRAL DOMAIN AND TENURED MIGRANTS