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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._5613_

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ISAGANI S. AMATONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare Kalawit Lake in Barangay Poblacion,
Municipality of Kalawit, Province of Zamboanga del Norte as a tourist
destination.

Kalawit Lake is a majestic body of water with an area of about eight (8)
hectares. Surrounding the lake is a second growth forest where flora and
fauna flourish. Migratory birds can be seen in the lake, as it is identified by the
Birds Watch as one of the wild duck sanctuary of the country.

With the declaration of Kalawit Lake as a tourist destination, not only
would the beauty of Kalawit Lake be preserved and enhanced, but the quality
of life of the residents of the nearby areas would be improved due to additional
revenues and employment opportunities from tourism activities. In turn, this
will uphold the policy of the State in promoting a tourism industry that is
“sustainable, cultural, ecological, accountable, economically feasible, and
ethically and socially equitable to all its inhabiting populace”.

It is noteworthy that the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalawit has issued
Resolution No. 43, series of 2018, which endorses to the Department of
Tourism their prepared development plan of the Kalawit Lake. Said
development plan includes the construction of a Small Water Impounding
Project (SWIP), which will irrigate the rice lands located downstream of the
lake. As a result of the SWIP, water in the lake will rise and thus boating and
floating cottages on the lake could be established as tourist attractions.
Moreover, the development plan includes installation of view decks and picnic
areas in areas surrounding the lake for the viewing of the birds that come
during migration season.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
Lik
S. AMATONG


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5613

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ISAGANI S. AMATONG

AN ACT
DECLARING THE KALAWIT LAKE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KALAWIT,
PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE A TOURIST DESTINATION,
PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The Kalawit Lake in Barangay Poblacion, Municipality of Kalawit,
Province of Zamboanga del Norte is hereby declared a tourist destination. As
such, its development shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT)
and shall be subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of
tourist destinations.

SEC. 2. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in
coordination with the concerned local government units and agencies of the
government, shall prepare a tourism development plan involving the
construction, installation, and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure and
facilities that shall enhance tourism in the area: Provided, That said
development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation o the natural
beauty and resources of the area: Provided, further, That any activities and
developments to be carried out in the area should conform with the concept of
ecotourism as provided in the national ecotourism strategy jointly issued by
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the DOT.

SEC. 3. The DOT and its concerned attached agencies shall take immediate
steps to implement the tourism development plan that will suit the natural
characteristics of Kalawit Lake, and shall incorporate the same in its tourism
development program for the ensuing calendar year. It shall also include
Kalawit Lake in all its national, regional, and local promotion programs.

SEC. 4. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Department’s program

the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act and from internally generated funds of the

DOT.


SEC. 5 Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of
the DOT, in consultation with the local government unit of Kalawit, shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation
of this Act.

SEC. 6. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive orders, or parts
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended accordingly.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,