Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRES S
First Regular Session
'.  i  ~  1  -
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVH FRANCISCO PAOL0 P. ORTEGA V
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The  Province  of La  Union  envisions  itself to  be  the  Agri-Tourism  Center  in
Northern Luron by 2025.  As such, agri-tourism is expected to spur higher and transformed
tourism activities and to intensify the marketing of investment potentials. The Province of
La Union leverages on the endowed resources, natural beauty and hospitable and happy
people of the province to improve competitiveness.
The municipality of Sam Juan, which is part of the Central Circuit together with the
City of San Femando and the municipalities of Bacnotan and San Gabriel, capitalizes on
the surfmg activity as  its contribution to the  increasing tourist arrivals  in the province.
Dubbed as the "Surfing Capital of the North", the municipality proudly hosted the surfing
event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in December 2-8, 2019.  Even prior to the
hosting of the biennial multi-sport event involving eleven (11) countries of the Southeast
Asian region, local surfmg breaks have been conducted and has drawn numerous tourists.
In this light, this measure seeks the formal declaration of San Juan as the "Surfing
Capital of the North."  To this end, appropriations for its development and promotion are
likewise pursued.
The foregoing considered, I hereby request for the approval of this bill.
HON. F
Representativ V
CO PAOLO P. ORTEGA V
1 st District of La Union


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRES S
First Regular Session
-.  ~  ,\  ^  ~
HOUSE BILL NO.
6902
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE FRANCISC0 PAOL0 P. ORTEGA V
AN ACT
DECLARING THE MUNICPALITY OF SAN JUAN AS THE ``SURFING
CAPITAL OF THE NORTH", PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be  it  enacted by  the  Senate  and House  Of Representatives  Of the  Philippines  in
Congress assembled:
SEC.  1. This Act shall be known as the  "Dec/crrcz/z.o# o/ffee S"7'¢7€g Cc7pz.rcz/ o/ffee
North Act. "
SHC. 2. The Province of La Union is hereby declared a tourist destination and the
municipality of San Juan as the "Surfing Capital of the North."  As such, its development
shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned government
agencies, and shall be subjected to the rules and regulations governing the development of
tourist destinations.
SHC. 3. Within one (1 ) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in coordination
with the Department of Public Work and Highways, the Department of Environment and
Natural  Resources,  and other concerned government agencies,  shall  prepare  a tourism
development  plan  involving  the  construction,  installation,  and  maintenance  of  such
appropriate facilities and infrastructure that shall develop and promote the beaches and
surfmg activities of the Municipality of Sam Juan, and ensuring accessibility and security
of tourists thereat.
SEC. 4. The DOT, in coordination with other concerned government agencies, shall
take immediate steps to implement the development plan and shall incorporate the same in
its tourism developmental programs for the ensuing calendar year.
SEC. 5. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Spartment's program the
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act and from intemally-generated funds of the DOT.


SEC.  6.  Within  ninety  (90)  days  after the  effectivity  of this  Act,  the  DOT,  in
consultation with the local government of the Province of La Union, the Municipality of
San Juan and other government agencies concerned, shall formulate the necessary rules
and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
SHC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation and shall remain valid and effective up
to twenty (20) years thereof.
Approved.