Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT  
DECLARING LA MESA DAM ECOPARK IN BARANGAY FAIRVIEW, 
QUEZON CITY AS A TOURISM SITE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Tourism spots bring to mind ideas of picnic spots with grilling facilities, 
paddle boat ride in a lagoon (ala Baguio’s Burnham Park), fitness trail with 
exercise stations, mountain bike trails along forested lanes, flower terraces 
and the like. These are also platforms and opportunities for local government 
units to increase its revenue while protecting the environmental aspect of 
these sites. 
The present La Mesa Dam Eco-Park reflects all these amenities. 
Simply visiting La Mesa Dam Eco-Park is already equivalent to saving 
the La Mesa Watershed which is also the primary source of drinking water 
for about 12 million Metro Manila residents. It consists of 2,000 hectares of 
surrounding forest and 700 hectares of reservoir and its forests serve as 
lungs of Metro Manila providing clean air. 
This bill seeks to provide a development plan that aims to rehabilitate, 
reforest, preserve and protect the La Mesa Watershed while at the same time 
promote its highest tourism potential and value, thereby providing jobs for 
its residents and revenue for the local government. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City
September 29, 2022
5:16 pm
5301


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT  
DECLARING LA MESA DAM ECOPARK IN BARANGAY FAIRVIEW, 
QUEZON CITY AS A TOURISM SITE 
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 "La Mesa Ecopark 
Tourism Site Act". 
SECTION 2. Tourism Site. – The La Mesa Dam Eco-Park in Barangay 
Fairview, Quezon City is hereby declared a tourism site. As such, it shall 
be accorded priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT), 
subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of tourism 
sites. 
SECTION 3. Development Plan. – The DOT, coordination with the Tourism 
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and other concerned 
agencies of government shall, within one (1) year from the approval of this 
Act, prepare a development plan involving construction, installation and 
maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure as shall 
enhance tourism in said are, provided, that said development plan shall 
ensure the preservation of the natural beauty and historical significance of 
the area. 
SECTION 4. Implementing Agency. – The DOT shall take immediate steps 
to implement said development plan with the Quezon City Local Government 
and shall incorporate the same in the Department’s overall tourism 
development program for the year following the approval of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Tourism, in consultation 
with relevant local government units, shall issue the necessary rules and 
regulations to implement this Act. 
5301


 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the 
other provisions hereof. 
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,