Republic Act 11038. Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018.

The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), encompass ecologically rich and unique areas and biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare and threatened species of plants and animals , biogeographic zones and related ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be designated as 'protected areas'. The Law provides for the environmental and natural resources offices and protected area management offices where protected areas are located. The Environmental Management Bureau shall consider the environmental impact assessment. The Act further provides for heritage preservation, develop, protected and conserve the biologically significant areas with their indigenous knowledge systems and practices. The exploration for energy resources may be allowed in protected areas only for the purpose of gathering data and information and only if such activity is carried out with the least damage to surrounding areas. Renewable energy projects may be allowed only by permission of the DENR secretary. The Integrated Protected Area Fund (IPAF) is established for purposes of financing the projects and sustaining the operation of protected areas and the System.
The Act provides for tax exemption on all grants and endowments made to the protected area fund. Violation of laws, rules and regulations in the protected areas are investigated by the Department of Justice. In Section 20 the prohibited acts are nominated such as killing, destroying and disturbing any wildlife, hunting, defacing boundary, damaging roads and trails, using blasting caps and occupying any public land. All property and private rights within the protected area and its buffer zones already existing and/or vested upon the effectivity of this Act shall be protected and respected. The Act further provides for reporting responsibility by nominated authorities and monitoring implementation of this Act by Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. This Act consists of 33 Articles.