Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3667

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ADOLPH EDWARD G. PLAZA
2™ District, Agusan del Sur

“AN ACT
DECLARING THE AGUSAN MARSH LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF
TALACOGON, SAN FRANCISCO, ROSARIO, BUNAWAN, LORETO, LA PAZ AND
VERUELA IN THE PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL SUR AS AN ECOTOURISM
ZONE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

Explanatory Note

The Agusan Marsh is an important region of biodiversity in the country with its
vast complex of freshwater marshes and watercourses. It serves as a feeding and
nesting ground of migratory wild birds as well as a habitat to rare and endangered
wildlife. It is known to be the home of the world’s largest crocodile caught in 2011
and was called “Lolong” by the locals. Lolong however died while in captivity in
2013. The Marsh, on top of being a habitat of several flora and fauna, also serves as
flood-retention basin that absorbs excess water during wet season.

With the unique biodiversity and beauty of Agusan Marsh, it has a lot of
potential for eco-tourism activities such as, but not limited to, bird watching, river
cruising, photography, and lake hopping. The various Manobo tribes which inhabit
the area consider the Marsh as their most important capital and resource. With the
purpose of boasting the beauty of the Marsh, the locals have initiated cultural tourism
activities through the efforts of the Agusan Marsh Organization, a loose community-
based organization in Sitio Panlabuhan of the Municipality of Loreto.

As local communities begin to see Agusan Marsh as a tourism destination,
thus a potential source of income, it is imperative that an appropriate policy and
support from the local and national government must be considered. The
development of the ecotourism zone must be in accord with the policy of the State
which states that tourism development must be ecologically sustainable, responsible,
participatory, culturally sensitive, economically viable, and ethically and socially

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equitable for local communities. It is hoped that with the passage of this bill, relevant
government agencies can institutionalize the necessary programs for the
development and protection of the Agusan Marsh as an eco-tourism destination.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earmestly sought.

ADOLPH ED! G. PLAZA
2N° District, Agusan del Sur


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3667

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ADOLPH EDWARD G. PLAZA
2® District, Agusan del Sur

“AN ACT
DECLARING THE AGUSAN MARSH LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF
TALACOGON, SAN FRANCISCO, ROSARIO, BUNAWAN, LORETO, LA PAZ
AND VERUELA IN THE PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL SUR AS 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 as an ecotourism zone.

SECTION 3. Objectives. - Pursuant to the above declaration of policy, the
State shall seek to:

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 concemed, consistent with the

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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
concemed by giving preference and support to community and home-
based tourism enterprises, such as, but not limited to, homestays, micro
and small businesses including restaurants, food and fruit stands, and
other similar tourism-oriented industries and businesses;

e. Ensure that the equality of local tourism programs and activities are
educational and enriching for tourists and visitors through the orientation,
educational and tour programs by local tour operators, non-government
organizations (NGOs), the concemed 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 concemed Local Government Units (LGUs) shall ensure that
the needs of the local residents for adequate water supply, food, energy,
transportation and local construction materials are first secured and met.

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;

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. 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 concemed agencies.

SECTION §. Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Board. — An ecotourism governing
board, to be known as the Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Board, hereinafter referred 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 Secretaries of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), or their duly authorized
representatives;

c. The Mayors of the Municipalities of Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario,
Bunawan, Loreto, La Paz, and Veruela;

d. A member of a non-govemment organization whose advocacy is
environmental preservation;

e. Amember of the academe;

f. Arepresentative from the business sector; and

g. Arepresentative from the private sector.

The Board shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the
proper implementation of this Act by the concemed 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 6. The Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Development and Management
Plan. — Within one twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the Department of
Tourism (DOT), in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (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 Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Development and Management Plan shall
ensure the preservation of the area and shall include the following components:

a. Carrying capacity of the Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Zone and 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-

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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 for the Agusan Marsh Ecotourism Zone shall be participatory, with the
framework to be provided by the DOT and the DENR, in consultation with the local
governments of Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Loreto, La Paz, and
Veruela.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the
Department’ program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act and from intemally generated
funds of the DOT.

SECTION 8. 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 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this part Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions which are not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.