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Republic of the Philippines /
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES \

Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. e020

Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare the Verde Island Passage as Marine
Protected Area (MPA) and Eco-Tourism Zone.

The Province of Oriental Mindoro is bestowed with various
natural aquatic treasures, one of which is known as the “Verde
Island.” Meanwhile, the “Verde Island Passage,” which is about one
hundred (100) kilometers in length and about twenty (20)
kilometers across its narrowest point, accomodates spectacular
reef formations of more than three (300) species of corals and
underwater rock canyons and serve as home to more than half of
the world’s known shore fish species. As such, the Verde Island
Passage has been described as the “Center of the World’s Marine
Biodiversity.”

Cognizant of its potential for eco-tourism development, being
an economic pump-primer, and, more importantly, the indubitable
urgency of protecting, conserving and promoting the sustainable
use of the Verde Island Passage, the undersigned strongly
recommend the enactment of this bill.

Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3070
House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI JR.

AN ACT
DECLARING THE VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE
AS MARINE PROTECTED AREA AND AN ECO-TOURISM ZONE

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

SECTION 1. Statement of Policy. - It is hereby declared
the policy of the State to protect its natural resources and to
promote sustainable tourism industry. Towards this end, the State
shall formulate effective strategies to conserve our resources and
to rationalize all efforts pertaining to environment protection while
creating an enabling eco-tourism industry especially in the
countryside.

SECTION 2. Declaration. - The Verde Island Passage is
hereby declared as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Eco-
tourism Zone. Accordingly, it shall be subject to the rules and
regulations governing MPAs and Eco-Tourism Zones.

SECTION 3. Marine Protected Area and Eco-tourism
Master Plan. - The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Department of
Tourism, the concerned Local Government Units, and with other
concerned offices and agencies of the government, shall formulate
and prepare the “Marine Protected Area and Eco-tourism Master
Plan” (MPAEMP) for the Verde Island Passage within a year from
the approval of this Act, and to strengthen the existing local


structural frameworks for support and cooperation to facilitate
smooth implementation of the MPAEMP.

SECTION 4. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to
carry out the provisions of this Act shall be taken from the
appropriation of the General Appropriations Act of the year
following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - Should any provision
herein be declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the
validity of other provisions of this Act.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in
two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.