RULES AND REGULATIONS TO GOVERN THE DENR-PALAWAN WILDLIFE RESCUE AND CONSERVATION CENTER (PWRCC) ACCREDITATION OF PALAWAN ECOLOGICAL DESTINATION GUIDES

To ensure the dissemination of accurate, proper information on
crocodiles, Palawan wildlife and biodiversity conservation as well as
the comfort, safety and enjoyment of tourists, the following rules and
regulations are hereby promulgated to govern the DENR-PWRCC
accreditation of ecological destination guides:

SECTION 1. DEFINITION

SECTION 1.1.   Definition of Terms . 
When used in these rules, the following terms and/or acronyms shall,
unless these context otherwise indicate, have the following meaning:

a.    PWRCC — the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center;

b.    Wildlife — means wild form and varieties of flora and fauna
in all developmental stages, including those which are in captivity or
are being bred or propagated;

c.    Accreditation — a certification issued that the holders is
recognized by the DENR — Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center
as having complied with its minimum standards in pursuit of ecological
destination guiding activities within its facility;

d.    Ecological Destination Guide — an individual who guides
visitors, both foreign and domestic in points of interest or ecological
destinations which have been identified by the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources as suitable for environmental awareness and
recreational purposes, for a fee, commission or any other form of
remuneration;

e.    DENR — the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

f.     NRDC — the Natural Resources Development Corporation.

SECTION 2.  STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION OF PWRCC ECOLOGICAL DESTINATION GUIDES

SECTION 2.1.   Who May Apply .  A resident Filipino citizen or a permanent resident alien who:

a.    is at least eighteen years of age;
b.    is physically and mentally fit;
c.    is of good moral character and must not have been convicted
of any crime involving moral turpitude, in this country or anywhere in
the world;
d.    possesses good to excellent command of foreign language(s), preferably English, and/or Filipino;
e.    has excellent knowledge of the Philippines in general, and
Palawan in particular — its people, history, culture customs, traditions
and natural resources especially wild species of flora and fauna; and
f.     has documents to prove a minimum of six (6) months of
experience in tourist guiding or related-practice, but in the absence
thereof, proof that applicant is at least in second year college and/or a
graduate of Bachelor of Science in Tourism/Biology/Environmental
Science/Zoology or has successfully completed a related course.

SECTION 2.2.   Requirements for the Issuance of Accreditation .  An applicant for accreditation as ecological destination guide shall submit/comply with the following:

a.   Certificate of good health issued by any duly licensed
physician that the applicant is physcally and mentally fit to be
ecological destination guide;
b.   Valid clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (current year);
c.   Valid clearance from the Philippine National Police (current year);
d.   Certificate of good moral character issued by the captain of the Barangay where the applicant is residing;
e.   Proof that the applicant is a licensed tourist guide by the
City Government of Puerto Princesa or any municipality of Palawan;
f.    Certificate of training on basic life support from the Philippine National Red Cross or its equivalent institution;
g.   Valid visa from the Bureau of Immigration and the proper
permit from the Department of Labor and Employment, in the case of
permanent resident alien;
h.   Certificate of completion or proof that the applicant has
passed a training on wildlife ecological destination guiding conducted
by DENR-PWRCC or any other organization duly authorized/recognized by
DENR-PWRCC to conduct such training; and
i.    Approval by the Ecological Destination Guide Accreditation Board;
j.    Other requirements that the PWRCC, the DENR and other concerned agencies may require from time to time.

SECTION 2.3.   Issuance of Accreditation and Identification Card
.  Upon compliance with all the requirements of the preceding section, a
certificate of accreditation and an identification card shall be issued
by NRDC upon payment of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY (Php 150.00) PESOS,
payable to Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC) to be
deposited on a separate bank account for the operation of the PWRCC.

SECTION 2.4.   Validity of Accreditation. 
Accreditation is valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of
issuance, unless revoked due to valid reasons by the PWRCC.

SECTION 3. ACCREDITATION PRIVILEGES.

As a special benefit, all accredited ecological destination guides
will be exempted from paying the entrance fee every time they bring
tourism to DENR-PWRCC, which non-accredited tourist guides are subject.

Accredited tourist guides will also be included in the mailing
list of the PWRCC Bulletin, get invited and discounted to DENR-PWRCC
sponsored/hosted activities such as conferences, symposia, fora and the
like which are tourism-related/relevant, receive complimentary copies of
information and education materials not to mention limited promotional
items and other freebies.

SECTION 4. ECOLOGICAL DESTINATION GUIDES ACCREDITATION BOARD

Ecological Destination Guides Accreditation Board shall be
established to administer the accreditation of ecological destination
guides and decide on other matters relative to the implementation of
these Rules and Regulations.

The Board shall be composed of the following:

1.         Undersecretary for Policy and Technical Services or its designated Representative — Chairman

2.         PAWB Assistant Director — Vice Chairman

3.         President or designated Representative, Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC)

4.         Project Director, PWRCC

5.         Project Coordinator, NRDC PWRCC Business Project

The Project Director, PWRCC shall submit a list of qualified
Ecological Destination Guides for consideration to the Board for its
evaluation and approval.

The Board shall meet from time to time at the call of the Chairman
or Vice-Chairman when the need arises to consider pending matters.

SECTION 5. GROUNDS FOR CANCELLATION OF ACCREDITATION

SECTION 5.1.   Grounds for Cancellation of Accreditation .  Any of the following acts, omissions or circumstances shall be sufficient ground for the cancellation of accreditation.

a.      Making false declaration or statement or making use of any
such declaration or statement or any document containing the same or
committing fraud or any act or misrepresentation for the purpose of
obtaining the grant of accreditation;

b.      Failure to maintain the standards and requirements for accreditation as prescribed in these Rules;

c.      Violation of, or non-compliance with any of the provisions
of these Rules, promulgated orders, decisions and circulars issued by
the DENR and other concerned government agencies;

d.      Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or any overt act of dishonesty misrepresentation, or misconduct;

e.      Any cause which disqualifies the grantee by reason of
physical or mental incapacity or which otherwise renders the
accreditation unnecessary or immaterial; and

f.       Any other act or omission inimical to the interest of the
tourism industry and DENR-PWRCC or in violation of any environmental
laws, rules and regulations.

g.      The cancellation shall be decided by the Board upon
complaint of any party, after proper investigation, and the notice of
cancellation issued by NRDC.

SECTION 6. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 6.1.   Separability Clause . 
The provisions of these Rules are hereby declared separable, and in the
event that said provisions or any part thereof are declared invalid, the
validity of all the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 6.2.   Repealing Clause.  All
existing rules and regulations issued and/or observed by DENR-PWRCC
which are inconsistent with the provisions of these Rules and
Regulations are hereby repealed and superseded accordingly.

SECTION 6.3.   Effectivity.   These Rules and Regulations shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 30 Aug. 2000

(SGD.) ANTONIO H. CERILLES
Secretary