The National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 legislated the identification and classification of 17 protected areas in the country. This was amended by the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (E-NIPAS) in 2018, which increased coverage to more than a hundred. A process evaluation of this policy augmentation was conducted by examining three case study sites: the Masungi Georeserve, the Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape, and the Northern Negros Natural Park. Discussions with the management of several other protected areas in Luzon allowed for further analysis and result verification. Aside from the expanded legislated coverage, results showed that E-NIPAS introduced changes in how consideration is given to policy and management regarding indigenous peoples' rights, sectoral representation, sustainable financing, ecological integrity protection, and penalty provisions. Cascading the intent of the policy proved more difficult due to bureaucratic limitations, with funding and manpower constraints impacting protected area management efficiency, biodiversity protection and conservation, critical area and buffer zone encroachment, and control of economic and destructive activities. Recommendations to enhance integrated protected area system management include the operationalization of workable models that promote stakeholder partnerships in sharing ecological protection mandates and addressing compromising activities within critical zones. Clear supplementary guidelines are needed to standardize area management and protection approaches, limiting arbitrary decision-making among protected area management boards, superintendents, and staff. Compartmentalization of area protection in terms of size, resource provision, and management composition is also key. More detailed characterization of protected areas, the crafting and implementation of area protection and business plans, and policy enforcement and legal follow-through are critical in optimizing the management of the country’s integrated protected area systems.
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