Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First | Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. £92.

Introduced by: Honorable GEORGE P. ARNAIZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare the Mabinay Caves in the Municipality of
Mabinay, Province of Oriental Negros, as tourist destination.

Mabinay, located 87 kilometers northwest of Dumaguete City,
holds some of the country's most fascinating caves. The Odloman
cave is 8870 meters long and has a vertical range of 82 meters. As per
record, it is the second longest cave system in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Odioman Cave situated has large galleries, many small
corridors, active streams and interesting obstacles. Cayaso Cave has a
subterranean river flowing beneath its main chamber. It measures 2,222
meters long and ranks as the 9th longest cave in the Philippines.

Panligawan Cave on the other hand has a big gaping hole
upfront and requires a descent. It is a short one but has a skylight in the
middle. The nearby Pandalian Cave is physically similar to Panligawan
Cave — short but cavernous. Then there is the Crystal Cave, so called
because of the many stalactites and stalagmites stuffing the place.
Some of these have formed into pillars or columns, some into draperies
that appear to shroud some sections. The Crystal Cave has a length of
209 meters and a depth of 5 meters.

While the tourism potential in the area has been tapped for
several years both by local, and national, and international tourists, it is
the intention of this bill to further improve tourism in the locality by
establishing the Mabinay Caves as a tourist destination area.

While tourism development needs to be planned along
sustainable principles for a long term survival of the resources, this bill
mandates the preparation of a comprehensive development plan
involving the construction, rehabilitation and installation of appropriate


and nature-friendly facilities not only to upgrade the Mabinay Caves as
a tourist destination, but also to ensure the protection, conservation,
and improvement of the natural resources surrounding the caves.

In view of the policy of the State to promote and maximize the
contribution of tourism as a means for economic development, early
approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

24 District, Oriental Negros


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

Qe
HOUSE BILL NO. 682

Introduced by: Honorable GEORGE P. ARNAIZ

AN ACT
DECLARING MABINAY CAVES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MABINAY,
PROVINCE OF ORIENTAL NEGROS AS TOURIST DESTINATION, PROVIDING
FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

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

SECTION 1. The Mabinay Caves is hereby declared tourist destination.
As such it shall be accorded with priority development by the
Depariment of Tourism (DOT) and shall be subject to the rules and
regulations governing the development of tourist destination.

SECTION 2. The Department of Tourism, in accordance with the local
govemment units, the Representative of the Second Congressional
District and other concerned agencies of the government shall, within
one (1) year after the approval of this Act, prepare a development
plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance of such
‘appropriate facilities and infrastructure as shall enhance tourism in the
area; Provided, That said development plan shall ensure the
preservation and conservation of the natural resources of the area.

SECTION 3. The Department of Tourism shall take immediate steps in
implementing the tourism development plan that will suit the natural
characteristic of Mabinay Caves and shall incorporate the same in its
overall development plans and programs for national implementation.

SECTION 4. It shall also be the responsibility of the DOT to promote
Mabinay Caves as tourism areas in all its national, regional and local
promotion programs.


SECTION 5. The DOT shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. The Secretary of the Department of Tourism shall include in
the Department's program the implementation of this Act, the funding
of which shall be charged against the internally generated funds of the
Philippine Tourism Authority and/or the appropriations in the Annual
General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 7. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive orders
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended
accordingly.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,