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Republic of the Philippines 
 House of Representatives 
               Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____________ 
Introduced by Representatives EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA and ALFEL M. BASCUG 
Explanatory Note 
The Agusan Marsh is an important region of biodiversity in the country with its vast 
complex of freshwater marshes and watercourses. It is a shelter for unique and endangered 
fauna as well as the feeding and breeding place for migrating birds and endangered wildlife. 
The Marsh, the habitat for a variety of flora and fauna, also serves as a flood-retention basin, 
absorbing excess water during the rainy season—a key role that the Marsh plays and benefits 
the various areas of Mindanao. 
The Marsh is also a home to various indigenous tribes of the province who consider it 
their most valuable resource and precious treasure bequeathed by their forefathers. The unique 
biodiversity and beauty of Agusan Marsh makes it ideal for eco-tourism activities like bird 
watching, river cruising, photography and homestays. The Agusan Marsh Organization, a loose 
community-based organization in Sitio Panlabuhan in the Municipality of Loreto, Agusan del 
Sur, has staged cultural tourist activities to highlight the beauty of the marsh. 
As local communities begin to see Agusan Marsh as a tourism destination, it is vital 
that proper measures and assistance be considered by both the local and national governments 
in order to maximize its potential while preserving its natural beauty. The ecotourism zone must 
be developed in line with the State policy which states that tourism development must be 
ecologically sustainable, responsible, participatory, culturally sensitive, ethically and socially 
equitable for local communities.  
In the 18th Congress, this bill was approved by the House of Representatives and was 
duly transmitted to the Senate. In the 19th Congress, the authors aspire for the passage of this 
bill to institutionalize the initiatives of the key agencies to conserve, protect, and develop the 
Agusan Marsh. 
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In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
              ALFEL M. BASCUG 
EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA 
 1ST District, Agusan del Sur 
2nd District, Agusan del Sur 


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Republic of the Philippines 
 House of Representatives 
               Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____________ 
Introduced by Representatives EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA and ALFEL M. BASCUG 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE AGUSAN MARSH LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF 
TALACOGON, SAN FRANCISCO, ROSARIO, BUNAWAN, LORETO, LA PAZ AND 
VERUELA, ALL IN THE PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL SUR, AN ECOTOURISM 
ZONE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – The State is mandated to promote a tourism 
industry that is ecologically sustainable, responsible, participative, culturally sensitive, 
economically viable, and equitably beneficial to local communities.  
SECTION 2. Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Zone. – The Agusan Marsh in the 
Municipalities of Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Loreto, La Paz, and Veruela in 
the Province of Agusan del Sur is hereby declared an ecotourism zone. 
SECTION 3. Scope and Coverage. – This Act shall cover the municipalities of 
Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Loreto, La Paz, and Veruela.  
The setting of technical boundaries of the ecotourism zone shall be undertaken by the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned agencies. 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
a.
Biodiversity conservation refers to the practice of preserving the variety of species,
habits and ecosystems, and genetic diversity of the place, including inter alia,
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes
which they are a part of;
b. Community-based tourism refers to a form of tourism where the local community
and its residents have substantial control over and involvement in the development
and management of the local tourism industry and a greater portion of the economic
gains remain within the community;
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c. Ecotourism refers to a form of sustainable tourism within a natural area where 
community participation, protection and management of natural resources, cultural 
and indigenous knowledge and practices, environmental education and ethics, as 
well as economic benefits are fostered and pursued for the enrichment of host 
communities and satisfaction of visitors; 
 
d. Homestays refers to a system of tourist accommodation where a tourist stays and 
experiences the day-to-day life of the local residents; 
 
e. Responsible ecotourism refers to a form of sustainable tourism in which both the 
tourism sector and the tourists take responsibility in the protection, respect, and 
conservation of the natural environment and the local culture and ways of life, and 
where community participation as well as economic benefits are fostered and 
pursued for the well-being of the local residents and visitors; 
 
 
SECTION 5. Development Strategies. – To accomplish the development of the Agusan 
Marsh Ecotourism Zone, the State shall: 
 
a. Develop and promote responsible, community-based ecological tourism as the core 
management strategy in the development of the Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Zone; 
 
b. Ensure the conservation of the biodiversity and the preservation of the said 
ecotourism zone; 
 
c. Develop ecotourism products and programs that will generate employment and 
livelihood for the local residents concerned, consistent with the preservation and 
maintenance of the natural resources; 
 
d. Guarantee that the financial and economic benefits of the tourism industry are 
equitably shared by, and distributed among the local residents concerned, by giving 
preference and support to community – and home-based micro and small tourism 
enterprises such as homestays, restaurants, food and fruit stands, and other similar 
tourism-oriented businesses and activities; 
 
e. Ensure that the equality of local tourism programs and activities are educational and 
enriching for tourists and visitors through the provision of orientation, educational 
and tour programs by local tour operators, non-government organizations (NGOs), 
the concerned Local Government Units (LGUs), the Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Tourism (DOT); and, 
 
f. Guarantee that in the development and promotion of the local tourism industry, the 
concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) shall ensure the adequate provision of 
water supply, food, energy and transportation for the needs of the local residents 
and communities.  
 
SECTION 6. -The Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Development and Management Plan. – 
Within one twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in coordination with the 
DENR, shall formulate an Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Development and Management Plan that 
shall be complemented by a set of guidelines for a responsible, community-based tourism. 
 
 
The Ecotourism Development and Management Plan shall ensure the preservation of 


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the ecotourism zone. It shall include and pay due regard to the following considerations: 
 
a. Carrying capacity of the Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Zone, including its 
endemic and migratory birds species; 
 
b. Specific site assessment; 
 
c. Identification of strategic priorities; 
 
d. Product development plans for local income generation; 
 
e. Capacity-building for the local community so residents therein can ably 
manage economically viable and responsible, community- based ecotourism 
business enterprises; 
 
f. Strategies to promote the formulation of local production groups and 
networks, including the marketing and pricing of products; and  
 
g. Marketing strategies that uphold the natural, social and environmental 
integrity Agusan Marsh Ecotourism zone and its local residents. 
 
The process of formulating the Ecotourism Development and Management Plan shall 
be participatory, with the framework to be provided by the DOT and the DENR, in consultation 
with the municipal governments of Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Loreto, La 
Paz, and Veruela.  
 
 
SECTION 7. Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Board. – The Agusan Marsh Ecotourism 
Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, is hereby created. It shall be composed of the 
following: 
 
a. The Governor of the Province of Agusan del Sur, as Chairperson; 
b. The Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), or a duly authorized 
representative; 
c. The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), 
or a duly authorized representative; 
d. The Mayors of the Municipalities of Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, 
Loreto, La Paz, and Veruela; 
e. Representative from a non-government organization whose advocacy is 
environmental preservation; 
f. Representative from the academe; 
g. Representative from the business sector; and 
h. Representative from the private sector. 
 
The Board shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper 
implementation of this Act by the concerned local government units, and shall, as the need 
arises, amend, modify or revise such rules and regulations to meet the needs of changing times.  
 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. – The Secretaries of the DOT and DENR shall include 
in their respective Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and shall augment such allocation 
with internally generated funds of the DOT. 


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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this part Act shall be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in 
full force and effect.  
 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, 
presidential decrees or other issuances contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of 
this Act are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,