Historical Context of the Protected Areas

The Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) traces its beginning as a portion
of the 197.8 hectares Quezon Memorial Park (QMP) which was covered under Proclamation No.
42 dated July 5, 1954. With the issuance of Proclamations Nos. 481 and 616 respectively, the
park’s area was reduce 64.58 hectares. The larger areas were allocated for Philippine Science
High School and the National Government Center which was later on subdivided and developed
as the areas occupied by the Central Bank of the Philippines, Lung Center, Kidney Center, and
Lungsod ng Kabataan (Children’s Hospital). To date, the NAPWC covers only 22.7 hectares.

July 25, 1970, the park was inaugurated and opened to the public by the then President
Ferdinand Marcos and the Vice President Fernando Lopez.

In July 1982, the park was temporary closed to the public for renovation in an effort to
provide facilities/infrastructures. It was in this period when the craft village cottage, fishing
village, amphitheater and comfort rooms were constructed. Also, the water system facilities were
installed. Furthermore, the park’s lighting system was developed and installed by the armies. It
was reopened to the public on February 21, 1983 named Lungsod ng Kabataan Recreational
Park.

In 1986, it was renamed Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center (NAPWNC) in
honor of the late Senator by virtue of Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Administrative
Order No. 4 series of 1986.

After the government reorganization in 1987, the park was place under the administration
of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) a staff bureau of the Department of
Environment and Natural resources (DENR) responsible for the protected area management and
wildlife conservation.

In May 25, 2000, the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center was disestablished
as protected area and shall be known as DENR-Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center by
virtue of Proclamation No. 312.

In August 21, 2002, Proclamation No. 312 was amended by changing the name of
DENR-Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center to Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center by
virtue of Proclamation No. 238.

At present, the 22.7-hectare NAPWC is under the management and administration of the
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) by virtue of Proc. No. 723 dated 25 October 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo. Said proclamation established the park as a protected area and a component of the
National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).