Welcome to the Environmental Management and
Protected Areas Services (EMPAS)
DENR Caraga Homepage




The Environmental Management and Protected Areas Services provides advice and technical expertise to the Regional Executive Director in the implementation of P.D. 948 known as the Pollution Control Law, P.D. 1586 known as the Environmental Impact Statement System, and Republic Act 7586 known as the NIPAS Act (National Integrated Protected Areas System) based on existing DENR implementing rules and regulations.

There are three Divisions under the EMPAS. These are the Environmental Quality Division (EQD) and the Protected Area and Wildlife Division (PAWD). Existing as an Ad Hoc Division is The Environmental Impact Assessment Division (EIAD). These Divisions have the specific task of providing technical expertise for the enforcement of the above cited laws.

The Pollution Control Law embodies provisions on the following concerns:

  • Air Quality Standards;
  • Water Quality Standards;
  • Noise Pollution Control;
  • Solid Waste and Toxic and Hazardous Wastes Prevention and Control;
  • Odor Emmission Control;
  • {Permit Regulations;
  • Monitoring and Reporting; and
  • Penalties and Penal Provisions.


EMPAS Activities under P.D. 1586 or the Environmental Impact Statement System, on the otherhand, include the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and enforcing penalty provisions of the law in Projects which by law are required to be issued an ECC by the DENR Caraga Regional Executive Director or the DENR Secretary.



Projects which need to have an ECC are either:
  • An Environmentally Critical Project (ECP)

    A project that will most likely have high risk or negative environmental impact.

  • A Project in an Environmentally Critical Area

    An area which is ecologically, socially, or geologically sensitive.
Environmentally Critical Projects

1. Heavy industries

  1. Non ferous metal industries
  2. Iron and steel mills
  3. smelting plants
  4. Petroleum and Petrochemical industries, including oil and gas
2. Resource Extractive industries

  1. Major mining and quarrying projects
  2. Forestry projects (logging, major wood,processing, introduction of exotic animals in public and private forests, forest occupancy, extracting of mangrove products, grazing)
  3. Fishery projects (dikes for/and fishpond development projects)
3. Infrastructure Projects

  1. Major dams
  2. Major roads and bridges
  3. Major power plants (fossil-fueled, nuclear, coal-fired, hydro-electric, geothermal
  4. Major reclamation projects
4. Golf Course Projects
Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)

  1. Areas declared by law as national parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves and sanctuaries;
  2. Areas set aside as potential tourist spots;
  3. Areas which are the habitat of endangered or threathened species of indigenous Philippine plants and animals;
  4. Areas which are traditionally occupied by indigenous cultural communities;
  5. Areas frequently hit by natural calamities (geologic hazards, floods typhoons, volcanic activity, etc.);
  6. Areas with critical slopes;
  7. Areas classified as prime agricultural lands;
  8. Recharged areas of acquifers;
  9. Water bodies which are used for domestic supply, or support fisheries and wildlife;
  10. Mangrove areas which have a critical ecological functions or on which depend for livelihood; and
  11. Coral reefs which have critical ecological functions





Projects Not Covered by the EIS System

  1. Projects which are not Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs) or located in environmentally critical areas (ECAs);

  2. Projects or structures that have been in operation or existing prior to 1982, even if they can be classified as ECAs, except if their dailyproduction capacity or area have been expanded, or if their daily production area or area have been expanded, or fi their production processes have been changed; and

  3. Countryside business and barangay entities (CBBEs), or so-called Kalakalan 20 enterprises because they employ no more than 20 persons, which have been registered with the Departmaent of Trade and Industry from 1991 to 1994. Non-coverage of a CBBE, however is limited to a five-year period only, from date of its registration.




PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE DIVISION

EMPAS is tasked to ensure the protection of and conservation of our wildlife resources, particularly of the rare, threatened and endangered species against over exploitation.

The protection and conservation of the wildlife resources in Caraga is the main concern of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Division which is primarily tasked to implement R.A. 7586 or the NIPAS Act.

Categories of Protected Areas as established under R.A. 7586 are:

  • Strict Nature Reserve;
  • Natural Park;
  • Natural Monument;
  • Wildlife Sanctuary;
  • Protected Landscpe and Seascapes;
  • Resource Reserve;
  • Natural Biotic; and
  • Other categories established by law, conventions or international agreements which the Philippine Government is a signatory.




Salient Points of the NIPAS Act
  • Establishment of Protected Area categories;
  • Permanency of Protected Area Boundary through an Act of Congress.
  • Public Consultation and Involvement in all aspects of administration, management, Planning and Decision-making processes thru the Protected Area management Board(PAMB);
  • Standardization of Management Processes
  • Establishment and Management of Buffer Zones where Ecologically Compatible and sustainable Livelihood Practices are allowed;
  • Establishment of the IPAS Trust Fund which will provide income for Park Administration;
  • recognition of Ancestral Domain and Customary Rights;
  • Establishment of Safeguards againts Outright Energy Exploitation; and
  • Stiffer Penalties to Violators of Protected Area Laws, Rules, and Regulations.




PROTECTED AREAS IN CARAGA


Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary


Agusan Marsh is one of the ten identified priority areas under the Integrated Protected Areas System (IPAS) sites in the Philippines under the Conservation of Priority Protected Areas Project (CPPAP). It is the only remaining vast wetland ecosystem in the Philippines covering portions of five municipalities in Agusan del Sur with total area of 19,196.558 hectares. It harbors unique and pristine habitat types and a home to a wide array of flora and fauna. In October 1996, Agusan marsh was proclaimed by President Fidel V. Ramos as a Protected Area (PA) under the category of Wildlife Sanctuary per Proclamation No. 913.







Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape


Siargao Island is geographically and politically under the jurisdiction of the province of Surigao del Norte which is located at the Northeastern portion of Mindanao. The island lies between 125"50` & 126"15` east longitude and between 9"30` and 10"0.5` north latitude. It is bounded on the north by Surigao del Norte, on the east by Philippine Sea and on the west by Hinatuan passage.

Unspoiled tear drop shaped island,SIARGAO is the surfing capital of the Philippines with surfing waves equivalent to power and quality to that of Hawaii's. Within the municipality of General Luna, there are 8 documented breaks including the famous "Cloud Nine" which is considered as one of the world`s top surfing waves.

Siargao is shangrila for adventures and nature lovers. It`s unique ecosystems are habitats of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, whether terrestrial or marine. The islands of Siargao and Bucas Grande are included in the Integrated Protected Area System of the country, as mandated by R.A. No. 7586.

Siargao, indeed, provides the perfect ambience for a frolic in the sun, sand and sea.


Places to visit in Siargao - a must for nature enthusiasts
Guyam Island

A small island fronting the municipality of General Luna, the island offers a good surfing view of the spell bounding waves that Siargao has. The island has a fine white sand like powder and one can go surfing a few meters away.It takes about 10 minutes pumpboat ride from Gen. Luna.

Daku Island

A wonderful island adjacent to Guyam and about 5 minute-pumpboat ride. Ideal location for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and etc.

Del Carmen

In this vast swampland of preserved mangroves lives the biggest crocodiles in the country and is considered as their sanctuary. A boat ride along the narrow passage for a thrilling and overwhelming experience. This is about 1:20 minute-ride by land from General Luna.

Sohoton Cave

An eerie and wonderful experience of passing through a cave, passable during low tide only into an amazing lagoon of countless islets. Ideal for swimming, snorkeling, fishing and etc. About 2 hours ride by pumboat from General Luna.
PROCLAIMED PROTECTED AREAS
IN CARAGA REGION/ECOTOURISM SITES

Proclaimed AreaLocationArea (has)
1.Siargao Island Landscape and Seascape (PA) General Luna, Dapa and 7 other municipalities in Surigao del Norte 67,726
2. Agusan Marsh (PA) Bunawan, Rosario, Loreto, Veruela and La Paz, all of Agusan del Sur 27,000



ENDANGERED WILD FAUNA FOUND IN CARAGA

Common Name Scientific Name
1. Philippine Cockatoo (Abukay)Cacatua haematuropygla
2. Rufous Hornbill (Kalaw) Buceros hydrocorax
3. Philippines Tarsier (Amag)Tarsius syrichta
4. Giant Scops Owl (Mingok) Mimizuku gurneyi
5. Dugong (Dujung) Dugong dugon
6. Philippine CrocodileCrocodylus mindorensis
7. Saltwater CrocodileCrocodylus porosus
8. Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas
9. Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata
10. Philippine EaglePithecophaga jefferyi

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