Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo.__2165

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE CHERYL P. DELOSO-MONTALLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Mount Tapulao which is located in the Municipality of Palauig in the Province of
Zambales is the tallest mountain in the Zambales mountain range. Also known as the
“High Peak’ and “Poor Man's Mt. Pulag,” Mount Tapulao is host to a variety of
ecosystems ranging from grassland to primary and secondary dipterocarp forests to
mossy montane forest and pine forest. In addition to this are the scenic beauties of
several waterfalls and a whole lot of endemic plant and animal species that abound this
mountain.

With an elevation of 6,683 feet and a rolling and rocky terrain leading to its apex,
Mount Tapulao is one of the most attractive places for local and foreign trekkers and
mountaineers. At the summit, one can enjoy the view of the Zambales mountain range
on the east, the Lingayen Gulf on the north, the Zambales lowlands on the west and the
pristine South China Sea on the south.

This rare elegance of Mount Tapulao, however, has been slowly ruined by small
scale mining, illegal logging and the careless attitude of local inhabitants and tourists of
improperly disposing their garbage anywhere. Several initiatives have been made by
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to protect and preserve the
remaining forest cover and the various flora and fauna of Mount Tapulao. But these
initiatives are temporary solutions to a gamut of problems that pose a threat to the
mountain along with its rare plant and animal species.

This bill, therefore, aims to provide long term protection to the natural beauty of
Mount Tapulao while allowing both local and foreign tourists not only to appreciate what
Mount Tapulao can offer but also to make them aware of the interrelationships of plant
and animal species in the area that collectively makes Mount Tapulao a beauty to
behold among the mountain peaks of the world

It is in this light that this bill is being filed and immediate passage of this bill is
earnestly sought.

CHERYL P. DELOSO MONTALLA
Representative
2™ District, Zambales


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2165

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE CHERYL P. DELOSO-MONTALLA

AN ACT
DECLARING MT. TAPULAO IN ZAMBALES AS AN ECOTOURISM ZONE AND
FOREST RESERVE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the state to
promote a sustainable ecotourism industry to attract local and foreign tourists while
making them aware of the urgent need to preserve the blessings of nature.

SECTION 2. Mt. Tapulao Ecotourism Zone and Forest Reserve. Mount Tapulao
is hereby declared an ecotourism zone and the area of 5,000 hectares of the said
mountain is hereby declared as a forest reserve. The Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) shall, within 90 days after the approval of this Act, make an
inventory of the existing flora and fauna in Mt. Tapulao that shall serve as the basis for a
master plan that will be developed for the purpose of this Act

SECTION 3. Mt. Tapulao Ecotourism Governing Board. For the purpose of
Section 2 of this Act, an ecotourism governing board, to be known as the Mt. Tapulao
Ecotourism Governing Board, is hereby created. The board shall be composed of the
Representative of the Second District of Zambales who shall act as chair, the
Secretaries of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources or their duly authorized representatives, a member of a non-
government organization whose advocacy is environmental preservation, a member of
the academe, a representative of the business sector, a representative of the private
sector and the local chief executives of municipalities where Mt. Tapulao is situated
The governing board shall prepare the rules and regulations necessary for the full
implementation by the concerned local government units of the provisions of this Act
and shall, as the need arises, amend, modify or revise such rules and regulations to
meet the needs of changing times.

SECTION 4. Mt. Tapulao Ecotourism Master Plan. The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism (DOT)
shall, within 120 days from approval of this Act, develop a master plan to be approved
by the President of the Republic of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the
governing board.

SECTION 5. Appropriation. The amount necessary for the initial implementation
of the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the unappropriated balance of the
budget of the DOT for the first year. Subsequently, a yearly appropriation for the
effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act of the Republic of the Philippines.


SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, rules, regulations, executive orders,
presidential decrees or any other issuance contrary to or inconsistent with any of the
provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this Act may be
declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions which are not affected shall remain
in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,