Manila, Sept. 6 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed laws declaring a parcel of land in Tarlac and the waters surrounding Panaon Island in Southern Leyte as protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).

A copy of Republic Acts (RAs) 12237 and 12238 signed by Marcos on Aug. 29 was published in The Official Gazette on Friday.

According to RA 12237, a parcel of land located in the municipalities of Mayantoc and San Jose in Tarlac province will be known as the Mt. Sawtooth Protected Landscape.

The protected area in Southern Leyte, on the other hand, will be referred to as the Panaon Island Protected Seascape, based on RA 12238.

The declaration of protected areas under the NIPAS is cognizant of th...