Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

1811

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS IN THE
PHILIPPINES THEREBY CREATING A NATIONAL SCENIC
BYWAYS PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to recognize, protect and promote the Philippines’ most
outstanding roads which possess one of six core intrinsic qualities - scenic,
historic, cultural, natural, recreational, and archaeological - features which
contribute to the character of the roadway and its communities. The National
Scenic Byways designation aims to award routes that show the regional
characteristics of the nation’s culture, history and landscape.

National Scenic Byways represent the best of all scenic byways and
provide visitors with a unique travel experience since they are considered tourist
attractions in their own right. Under this measure, if a route is designated as
such, it does not only gain an expected boost in tourism, but also becomes
eligible for appropriations for improvements such as interpretive centers, view
decks, and rest areas. Moreover, local residents will be encouraged to work
closely with the Government and civic organizations to preserve and promote the
unique local beauty and distinctive character of their own community.

Recognition of scenic byways focuses not only on the promotion of roads,
but also helps balance economic development and resource conservation in the


localities. In the United States of America, a strong scenic byways program
produced strong community support and even encouraged the citizens to
develop a corridor management plan that describes in detail the preservation,
marketing, and improvement strategies for the byway.

In view of the importance of this proposed measure, its expeditious
approval is earnestly urged

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DIOSDADO CAPAGAL ARROYO GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

Second District, Camarines Sur cond District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

1811

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES
THEREBY CREATING A NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title, — This Act shall be known as the “National Scenic
Byways Program Act of 2010.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following
words and phrases shall be construed to mean as follows:

(a) Grants - a non-repayable, non-bearing assistance or
aid, given either through money or in kind, to encourage
development or growth in an area

(b) Byway — a minor or secondary road; a road other than
the main road.

(c) _ National Scenic Byway ~ a road that is recognized for
its archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or
scenic qualities


SECTION 3. Designation of Roads. -

(1) In general. — The Secretary of Department of Tourism (DOT) shall
carry out a national scenic byways program that recognizes roads having
outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, and archaeological
qualities by designating the roads as "National Scenic Byways”

(2) Criteria. — The DOT Secretary shall designate roads to be
recognized under the national scenic byways program in accordance with the
criteria developed by the department.

(3) Nomination, — To be considered for a designation, a road must be
nominated by a national government agency, local government unit (LGU), or a
civic organization situated in the locality of the road to be nominated.

(4) Reciprocal notification. - National Government agencies, LGUs,
and civic organizations shall notify each other regarding nominations made under
this subsection for roads that:

(a) are within the jurisdictional boundary of the National
Government agencies, LGUs, and civic organizations; or

(b) directly connect to roads for which the National
Government agencies, LGUs, and civic organizations is
responsible.

SECTION 4. Grants and Technical Assistance. -

(1) In general. — The DOT Secretary shall make grants and provide
technical assistance to National government agencies, LGUs, civic organizations
to:

(a) implement projects on highways designated as
National Scenic Byways.

(b) plan, design, and develop a National Government
agency, LGU or civic organization scenic byway program.

(2) Priorities. — In making grants, the DOT Secretary shalll give priority
to:

(a) each eligible project that is associated with a highway
that has been designated as a National Scenic Byway and that is
consistent with the corridor management plan for the byway;

v


(b) each eligible project along a National Government
agency, LGU or civic organization scenic byway that is consistent
with the corridor management plan for the byway, or is intended to
foster the development of such a plan, and is carried out to make
the byway eligible for designation as a National Scenic Byway; and

(c) each eligible project that is associated with the
development of a National Government agency, LGU or civic
organization scenic byway program.

SECTION 5. Establishment of Philippines’ Byways Resource Center. -

(1) In general. - The DOT Secretary shall allocate funds made
available to carry out the establishment of the Philippines’ Byways Resource
Center (PBRC). The DOT shall oversee and manage the resources of the center.

(2) Technical Support and Education. -

(a) __ Use of Funds. - The Center shall use funds allocated
to the Center under this section to tinue to provide technical
support and conduct educational acti s for the national scenic
byways program.

(b) Eligible Activities. - Technical support and educational
activities carried out under this sub-section shall provide local
Officials and organizations associated with National Scenic Byways,
with proactive, technical, and on-site customized assistance,
including training, communications (including a public awareness
series), publications, conferences, on-site meetings, and other
assistance considered appropriate to develop and sustain such
byways and roads,

SECTION 6. Eligible Projects. - The following are projects that are eligible
for Government assistance under this section:

(a) An activity related to the planning, design, or
development of a National Government agency, LGU or civic
organization scenic byway program.

(b) Development and implementation of a corridor
management plan to maintain the scenic, historical, recreational,
cultural, natural, and archaeological characteristics of a byway
corridor while providing for accommodation of increased tourism
and development of related amenities.


(c) Safety improvements to a National Government
scenic byway, LGU scenic byway or National Scenic Byway, to the
extent that the improvements are necessary to accommodate
increased traffic and changes in the types of vehicles using the
highway as a result of the designation as a Government scenic
byway, civic organization scenic byway or National Scenic Byway.

(a) Construction along a scenic byway of a facility for
pedestrians and bicyclists, rest area, turnout, highway shoulder
improvement, overlook, or interpretive facility

(2) An improvement to a scenic byway that will enhance
access to an area for the purpose of recreation, including water-
related recreation.

(0) Protection of scenic, historical, recreational, cultural,
natural, and archaeological resources in an area adjacent to a
scenic byway.

(g) Development and provision of tourist information to
the public, including interpretive information about a scenic byway,
and:

(h) Development and implementation of a scenic byway
marketing program.

SECTION 7. Limitation of Grants. - The DOT Secretary shall not make a
grant under this section for any project that would not protect the scenic,
historical, recreational, cultural, natural, and archaeological integrity of a highway
and adjacent areas.

SECTION 8. Savings Clause. - The DOT Secretary shall not withhold any
grant or impose any requirement on a National Government, LGU or civic
organization as a condition of providing a grant or technical assistance for any
scenic byway unless the requirement is consistent with the authority provided in
this Act.

SECTION 9. Regulation. - The DOT Secretary, in consultation with all
concerned stakeholders shall issue the necessary rules and regulations of this
Act within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 10. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be provided out of the savings from the appropriations
of the DOT for the current year. Thereafter, the sum necessary for the

implementation of this Act shall be appropriated in the annual appropriations of
the DOT.


SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
upon its publication in at least two (2) general newspapers of general circulation

Approved,