NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE   ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    
 ) 
First Regular Session     
 ) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. _______
Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas 
AN ACT  
DECLARING THE TAMBALIZA ISLAND IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
CONCEPCION, PROVINCE OF ILOILO AS AN ECOTOURISM ZONE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Travel and tourism remain to be among the largest economic sectors in the 
Philippines that need continuous support. The recovering travel and tourism 
sector is currently driving the growth of many industries as it continues to create 
jobs, drive exports and generate prosperity for the country. 
Pursuant to the policy of the State to promote sustainable tourism 
industry throughout the country, this bill seeks to declare the Tambaliza Island in 
the Municipality of Concepcion, Province of lloilo as an ecotourism zone with the 
goal of developing and promoting the island into a tourist destination, generating 
investments and creating job opportunities, and protecting the natural resources 
within the area. 
The Tambaliza Island, also known as Pan de Azucar Island, is the largest of 
16 outlying islands of the town of Concepcion and makes up nearly 19 percent of 
the town's total land area. The Pan de Azucar Seascape is an area of 2,480.1478 
square meters that includes both land and sea water areas around the island. 
The Tambaliza Island is politically located in the Municipality of Concepcion 
and is composed of the following barangays: (1) Brgy. Macatunao; (2) Brgy. 
Talotu-an; and (3) Brgy. Tambaliza. The Mt. Pan de Azucar (also called Mt. 
Manaphag) is the most prominent feature and distinguishable landmark of the 
island. The island is ringed by beaches, such as Lumpatan Beach in Bagotao, 
Brgy. Macatunao which are golden- yellow to white in color. 
July 11, 2022
10:01 am
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    
 ) 
First Regular Session     
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. ______
Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas 
AN ACT 
1 
DECLARING THE TAMBALIZA ISLAND LOCATED IN THE 
2 
MUNICIPALITY OF CONCEPCION, PROVINCE OF ILOILO, AN 
3 
ECOTOURISM ZONE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
6 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Tambaliza Island Ecotourism 
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Zone Act.” 
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SECTION 2. it is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote a 
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tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable, responsible, participative, 
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culturally-sensitive, economically viable and equitably beneficial to local 
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communities. 
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SECTION  3. The Tambaliza Island, consisting of three (3) barangays, 
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namely, Macatunao, Talotu-an, and Tambaliza, all located in the 
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Municipality of Concepcion, Province of Iloilo, is hereby declared an 
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ecotourism zone, to be known as the “Tambaliza Island Ecotourism Zone”. 
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As such, its development shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism 
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(DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of 
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ecotourism zones. 
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Within six (6) months from the approval of this Act, the DOT, in 
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coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
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(DENR), the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise of Environment and 
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Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the municipal government of Concepcion, 
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shall prepare and jointly implement a development plan for Tambaliza 
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Island, and shall incorporate the same in the National Tourism 
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Development Plan. 
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The DOT, in coordination with the DENR, the TIEZA, the municipal 
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government of Concepcion and other concerned agencies of government, 
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shall delineate well-defined geographic areas within the Tambaliza Island 
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Ecotourism Zone and coordinate the integrated development of the area 
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for the optimum use of natural assets and attractions. The development 
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shall ensure the preservation of the flora and fauna and perpetuate the 
1 
historic significance of the identified tourist attractions. 
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SECTION 4. The Secretaries of the DOT and DENR shall include in their 
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respective Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the 
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funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
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Act and from internally generated funds of the DOT. 
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SECTION. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 
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Secretary of the DOT, in consultation with the DENR, the TIEZA and the 
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municipal government of Concepcion, shall promulgate the necessary 
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rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. All laws, rules, regulations, presidential decrees and other 
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issuances inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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deemed repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,  
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