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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘5 z y
Quezon City Wo innerZ
20TH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1214

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE FRANCISCO PAOLO P. ORTEGA V

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Province of La Union envisions itself to be the Agri-Tourism Center in
Northern Luzon by 2025. As such, agri-tourism is expected to spur higher and transformed
tourism activities and to intensify the marketing of investment potentials. The Province of
La Union leverages on the endowed resources, natural beauty and hospitable and happy
people of the province to improve competitiveness.

The municipality of San Juan, which is part of the Central Circuit together with the
City of San Fernando and the municipalities of Bacnotan and San Gabriel, capitalizes on
the surfing activity as its contribution to the increasing tourist arrivals in the province.
Dubbed as the “Surfing Capital of the North”, the municipality proudly hosted the surfing
event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in December 2-8, 2019. Even prior to the
hosting of the biennial multi-sport event involving eleven (11) countries of the Southeast
Asian region, local surfing breaks have been conducted and has drawn numerous tourists.

In this light, this measure seeks the formal declaration of San Juan as the “Surfing
Capital of the North.” To this end, appropriations for its development and promotion are

likewise pursued.

‘The foregoing considered, I hereby request for the approval of this bill.

HON. sande PAOLO P. ORTEGA V

Representative, 1* District of La Union

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Ceti
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

20TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1214

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE FRANCISCO PAOLO P. ORTEGA V

AN ACT
DECLARING THE MUNICPALITY OF SAN JUAN AS THE “SURFING CAPITAL OF
THE NORTH”, PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SEC. 1. This Act shall be known as the “Declaration of the Surfing Capital of the North
Act.”

SEC. 2. The Province of La Union is hereby declared a tourist destination and the
municipality of San Juan as the “Surfing Capital of the North.” As such, its development shalll be
prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned government agencies, and
shall be subjected to the rules and regulations governing the development of tourist destinations.

SEC. 3. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in coordination with
the Department of Public Work and Highways, the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, and other concerned government agencies, shall prepare a tourism development plan
involving the construction, installation, and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and
infrastructure that shall develop and promote the beaches and surfing activities of the Municipality
of San Juan, and ensuring accessibility and security of tourists thereat.

SEC. 4. The DOT, in coordination with other concerned government agencies, shalll take
immediate steps to implement the development plan and shall incorporate the same in its tourism
developmental programs for the ensuing calendar year.

SEC. 5. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Spartment’s program the
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act and from internally-generated funds of the DOT.

SEC. 6. Within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, the DOT, in consultation
with the local government of the Province of La Union, the Municipality of San Juan and other
government agencies concerned, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2)
national newspapers of general circulation and shall remain valid and effective up to twenty (20)
years thereof.

Approved.