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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATE: :
Quezon City TIME: rt

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5738

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare the Mighty Cave Park and its premises, which is located in
the Municipality of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte, as an ecotourism zone in line with the national
government’s thrust of enhancing the country’s tourism sector as a pillar of national
development.

The Mighty Cave is a newly discovered cave in Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte. Itis blessed
with amazing natural scenery of surrounding springs and waterfalls, not to mention the cool
weather in the area. With these natural blessings, it is now known as the amazing cave in
Mindanao,

‘The Municipality of Tagoloan, with the assistance of the provincial government of the
Province of Lanao del Norte, has devoted its resources to develop the cave as a tourist
attraction, in view of the site’s tourism potentials and the corresponding economic benefits that
it may bring to the municipality and its residents. Improvements were introduced and The
Mighty Cave Park was formally inaugurated on June 21, 2009 during the 40" Araw ng
Tagoloan celebration and was opened since then to the public. However, so much is yet to be
desired in terms of developing the site as a viable tourist destination without compromising its
sustainability as an ecologically-sensitive natural site ~ a task that far exceeds the capabilities
of the host LGUs.

It is, therefore, the objective of this bill to develop the Mighty Cave Park to its
maximum potential and promote it as one of the leading ecotourism destinations in Mindanao
and the country with its natural beauty and unique attractions, by declaring it as a national
ecotourism zone. Doing so will certainly increase awareness and appreciation for the site and
will foster both local and intemational interest and attention that may eventually increase
economic activity in the host municipality and promote the province of Lanao del Norte as a
viable tourist destination

In view of these premises, the prompt approval of this bill is eamestly sought and
recommended.

REP. MO} LID Q. DIMAPORO.
1" District, Lanao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rer. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo

AN ACT
DECLARING THE MIGHTY CAVE PARK AND ITS PREMISES LOCATED IN
TAGOLOAN, LANAO DEL NORTE PROVINCE AS AN ECOTOURISM ZONE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the state to
promote a sustainable ecotourism industry to attract local and foreign tourists while making
them aware of the urgent need to conserve our natural blessings.

SECTION 2. The Mighty Cave Park and its premises located in Tagoloan, Lanao del
Norte Province is hereby declared as an ecotourism zone. As such, it shall be accorded priority
development by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

SECTION 3. The management and development of the Mighty Cave Ecotourism Park
in Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte shall be under the Lanao del Norte Tourism Council, which shall
then promulgate the rules and regulations governing the implementation of the provisions of
this Act.

SECTION 4. Mighty Cave Ecotourism Park Master Plan. The Tourism Infrastructure
and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), in coordination with the Department of Tourism and
Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall develop a master plan to be approved
by the Lanao del Norte Tourism Council.

SECTION 5. Appropriations. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the
Department's program the implementation of this Act, including the Feasibility Study and the
preparation of the master plan of the ecotourism zone, infrastructure support programs, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and/or the
intemally-generated fund of the Department or from TIEZA.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,