Sapa is intended to provide access and economic opportunities in protected areas for “indigenous peoples, permanent migrant communities and other stakeholders”. MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is ready to accept applications for protected area permits as the indefinite suspension of issuance was lifted after seven years. Cimatu said sapa also seeks to make full use of protected areas in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation by serving as a guide for their proper zoning. In addition to the development fee, the DENR will also charge an administrative fee of 5,000 pesos to the developer for each Sapa application submitted to cover the costs of reviewing, evaluating and processing the submitted applications. The fees are deposited in the Integrated Fund for Protected Areas. Individuals, groups and businesses can again apply for a Special Use Agreement for Protected Areas (Sapa) after the suspension of the exhibition is lifted, Environment Minister Roy Cimatu said on Friday. Palaui Island in Cagayan Province, one of the country`s more than 200 protected areas. Sapa is an instrument issued to individuals and groups that enables them to make productive use of a protected area designated under Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated System of Protected Areas Act of 1992. But even with the granting of a sapa, a protected area retains its status as such, with zoning regulations to ensure its regulated and limited use, said Meriden Maranan of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The Special Use Agreement for Protected Areas or SAPA is a physical instrument used for the productive use of a protected area within the meaning of Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated System of Protected Areas Act of 1992, while maintaining its PA status. “Now that the suspension has been lifted, the DENR can ensure that individuals, groups and businesses can again request the special use of PAs,” Cimatu said.

In accordance with the Ministry`s Administrative Decree 2007-17, signed by the then Minister of the Environment, Angelo Reyes, Sapa authorizes the use of protected areas for agroforestry, ecotourism facilities, campsites, communication and energy facilities, irrigation canals, aquaculture, as well as for meteorological facilities and other scientific monitoring facilities. In 2011, the issuance of SAPA was suspended indefinitely by the DENR because there was no standard rate for development fees charged to applicants. By allowing residents to use the land to earn a sustainable life, Sapa hopes to reduce poverty, the DENR said. It also informed them of the publication of an addendum to DAO 2007-17, as contained in DAO 2018-05, which provides for the standard calculation of development fees imposed on SAPA beneficiaries. “Development fees are levied based on the fixed percentage of the country`s zonal value and improvements to it,” Rodriguez said. “The permit also serves as a regulatory tool to increase resource use beyond viability and to increase local economic opportunities, such as .B increase local employment through ecotourism facilities,” Cimatu said. SaPA`s objectives include premium on ecosystem services provided by PAs, such as water supply, which is becoming a finite resource, and generating revenues that can be used to improve the management and functioning of PAs, thereby reducing the required domestic subsidies. . The Minister of the Environment, Roy Cimatu, recently issued a memorandum to all DENR regional offices informing them that the Agency is resuming the application of the Ministry`s Administrative Order No. 2007-17 or the rules and regulations for issuing the FIDM instrument for the PA. .

Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, director of the Biodiversity Management Office, said that under the addendum, development fees would be charged based on the fixed percentage of the country`s zonal value and improvements to it. . In a statement, BMB director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez said that with the lifting of Sapa`s suspension, the guidelines could now determine how much development fees can be charged to users. `The annual SAPA fee shall be paid at the time of granting the permit and each year thereafter within 30 days of the date of issue. In case of non-payment within the prescribed period, surcharges of 8.33% per month for late payment or 100% for one year will be charged,” she said. According to Rodriguez, the fee is equivalent to five percent of the value of the most recent commercial area in the nearest community where the project is located, multiplied by the area to be developed plus one percent of the value of the improvement as a premium to the AP. The DENR suspended the issuance of Sapas in 2011 due to the lack of a standard rate for “development fees” imposed on applicants, Maranan said. .