Section 9. Section 11 of Republic Act No. 7586 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 11. Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).— Within three (3) months after the effectivity of this Act, a PAMB shall be created for each of the protected areas designated as initial component, established by presidential proclamation, and declared by law. The Board shall be composed of the following:

“(a) DENR Regional Director under whose jurisdiction the protected area is located, as Chairperson;

“(b) Governor/s of the province/s where the protected area is located or their duly designated representative/s;

“(c) A Senator of the Republic of the Philippines who is a duly registered resident of the city or province where the protected area is located or a duly authorized representative, unless the Senator declines membership in the PAMB;

“(d) District Representative/s of the Congressional district/s where the protected area is located or then duly designated representatives, unless the District Representative declines membership in the PAMB;

“(e) Mayor/s of the city/cities or municipality/ municipalities where the protected area is located or their duly designated representative/s;

“(f) Chairperson/s of the barangay/s where the protected area is located:

“(g) Regional Directors of the following government agencies, namely: the Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of National Defense (DND);

“(h) Three (3) representatives from either an NGO or PO, duly accredited both by the DENR and the provincial government. The NGO or PO represented should have been in existence for at least five (5) years and with track record in or related to protected area management;

“(i) At least one (1) but not more than three (3) representatives from all the IPs/ICCs present in the area and recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP);

“(j) One (1) representative from an academic institution, preferably from a university or college in the province where the protected area is located, with proven track record in or related to the protected area management; and

“(k) One (1) representative from the private sector, preferably a resident of the province where the protected area is located, who is distinguished in a profession or field of interest relevant to the protected area management.

“Ex officio members or members of the PAMB by virtue of their elective or appointive government positions as specified in the immediately preceding subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g), shall serve for the duration of their respective terms of office in their respective elective or appointive government positions.

“On the other hand, the members of the PAMB specified under subparagraphs (h), (i), (j), and (k) of this section shall be appointed by the DENR Secretary after the conduct of a transparent and fair selection process. They shall each serve a term of three (3) years and may be reappointed for another term.

“The members of the PAMB shall serve without compensation, except for the actual and necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, either in their attendance in meetings of the PAMB or in connection with other official business authorized through a resolution of the PAMB, subject to existing rules and regulations. Each member shall have the full capacity and accountability for decisions binding to the member’s sector.

“The PAMB members duly appointed prior to the effectivity of this Act shall continue then term until the expiration of their appointment. Thereafter, members of the management board shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the Regional Director of the DENR shall ensure that the relevant members of the PAMB are duly appointed by the DENR Secretary: Provided, further, That at least forty percent (40%) of the PAMB members shall be women, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9710 or ‘The Magna Carta of Women’.

“A member of the PAMB may be removed for any of the following grounds:

“(1) More than three (3) consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings of the management, board;

“(2) Commission of acts prejudicial to the management of protected areas as embodied in Section 20 hereof and/or other existing rules and regulations governing protected areas;

“(3) Disassqciation from the office or organization being represented;

“(4) Termination of relationship with the office or organization being represented; or

“(5) Conviction by final judgment of any criminal act.”