It is one of 34 protected landscapes in the Philippines located in the municipality of Mangatarem, Pangasinan in the west-central area of the island of Luzon.

It was originally established in 1934 as the Manleluag Spring Forest Reserve covering approximately 58.8 hectares (145 acres) through Proclamation No.

[1] The boundaries of the reserve were delineated with reference to an alibanbang tree which was 35 cm (14 in) in diameter at the time.

[1] In 1939, the adjoining 32.9-hectare (81-acre) public forest was added to the reserve and on 3 September 1940, through President Manuel Luis Quezon's Proclamation No.

[6] The area has low to rolling and moderately steep slopes with an average elevation of 1,033 feet (315 m).