SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

> H.BNO. 4315

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our country's archipelagic character has endowed us with a wide array of
tourismattractions ranging from majestic volcanoes, lush tropical forests, breath-
taking waterfalls, magnificent seascapes, spectacular coral reef formations, and
many other rare attractions endemic only in the Philippines.

This, however, should not blind us from the alarming state of degradation of
our environment and our people's cultural traditions. Side by side with tourism
growth, our forests are being denuded at the rate of 25 hectares per hour. Only an
estimated 119,000 hectares of our country's mangrove forests remain. Of the 423
rivers being monitored by the government, about half are already polluted, 40 of
which are declared biologically dead. Erosion of the cultural traditions gounabated as
more members of our indigenous cultural communities are tempted into cultivating
marijuana in their ancestral lands for livelihood.

The great irony of having tourism growth rate but getting as well a damaged
environment is a major problem that this measure seeks to address.

The bill proposes an ecotourism policy that would lay down a tourism
framework based on a well-craftedbalance between economic growth and
environmental protection. It creates a NationalEcotourism Commission which shall
formulate and implement an Ecotourism Masterplan with the assistance of the
Department of Tourism and the Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources.

Given importance in this measure is the role of the local communities
including the indigenous cultural communities as stewards of the environment in their
respectivelocalities. By doing so, it is hoped that they shall also benefit from the
profits generatedfrom ecotourism activities.

The richness of our resources could only be optimally utilized if they are
bestprotected. Tourism would yield the most profits if it ensures the primary of the
environment and the preservation of the culture of our people. It is but time that


wereorient our tourism goals to a low-impact and sustainable type of tourism before
nothing else would be left to us,

Approval of the bill is therefore eamestly sought

MARK A. VILLAR


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

- HBNO_4345

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL ECOTOURISM POLICY,
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR ITS _ INSTITUTIONALIZATION,
CREATING
MECHANISM FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1.Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National
Ecotourism Policy Act of 2014."

SEC. 2.Declaration of Policy. - It is declared the policy of the State to.

a. Ensure the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology through
thepromotion of activities geared towards environmental protection and
conservation;

b. Establish a framework for the utilization of natural sites for tourism
Purposesensuring a balance between economic development and
resource enhancement;

©. Encourage non-government organizations, people's organizations and
theprivate sector to take the lead in initiating programs for tourism
development andenvironmental protection; and

4. Enlist the participation of local communities including the indigenous
peoples byproviding them the necessary assistance in the determination of
ecotourism sites andensuring their right to the full enjoyment of the
benefits thereof;

SEC. 3.Network of Ecotourism Sites. - There are hereby identified areas
which shall comprise the network of ecotourism sites established under this Act. The


sitesshall include, but not be limited to, areas within the Integrated Protected Areas
Systemas identified under Republic Act No. 7586, and; other areas with significant
and relevantcultural heritage to be identified by the Commission.

SEC. 4.National Ecotourism Commission. - There is hereby created a
NationalEcotourism Commission to be composed of one representative each from
acereditednon-government organizations and people's organizations engaged in
ecotourism, onerecognized indigenous people's federation, reputable travel
organizations, the academeand the organization representing the local government
chief executives.

The Commission shall be headed by a Chairman who must have a minimum
of seven (7) years of experience in ecotourism activities and environmental
protection. The Chairman and the members of the Commission shall be appointed by
the Presidentfor a term of five (5) years, renewable for one term

The Department of Tourism and (DOT) the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) shall assist the Commission in its task of pursuing
theobjectives established in this Act

SEC. 5.Functions and Responsibilities of the Commission.The
Commission shall be responsible for the following:

a. Review and, from time to time, update the existing Ecotourism Master Plan
andsupervise the implementation of the corresponding programs and
activities therein;

b. Assess and evaluate the potential impact of development to the
environmentalintegrity of areas to be included in the Network of
Ecotourism Sites through the conductof Environmental Impact
Assessments under Presidential Decree No. 1586 and itsimplementing
rules and regulations;

©. Conduct consultations with the local population to be affected by
ecotourismdevelopment to integrate their cultural values and beliefs in
ecotourism plans andprograms which may be formulated through their
own initiative;

d. Provide technical and financial assistance to communities which are
included inthe network of ecotourism sites established under this Act;

e. Formulate rules and regulations which shall prohibit poaching
activities,collection of wildlife species and the purchase of authentic
cultural and anthropologicalpossessions and artifacts and other activities
which unnecessarily utilize forest andaquatic resources in identified
ecotourism sites; and

f, Perform such other activities as may be necessary to carry out the
objectives ofthis Act


SEC. 6.Role of Local Communities. - The local communities as well as the
indigenous communities to be affected by the development of ecotourism site
shallactively participate in the formulation of ecotourism plans with the assistance of
the Commission. They.may declare their own localities as part or included in the
network of ecotourism sites.

The local communities shall directly receive the proceeds of ecotourism
activities in their respective areas as well as the preference in the employment
opportunities that will be generated therefrom; Provided, that the local communities
shall set aside a portion of the aforementioned proceeds sufficient to provide for the
protection and conservation of the environment in the ecotourism site.

SEC. 7. Code of Ecotourism Practice and Ethics - The Commission shall
formulate a Code of Ecotourism Practice and Ethics six (6) months after the approval
ofthis Act, after a series of consultations with the concerned and affected sectors of
thetourism industry as well as the affected communities and indigenous peoples.

SEC. 8, Ecotourism Fund - To carry out the purposes of this Act, there shall
be created a-special fund called the Ecotourism Fund which shall be sourced from at
leasttwenty percent (20%) of the gross receipts of the Travel Tax of the preceding
year andsuch other sources or savings as the government may deem appropriate.

SEC. 9. Appropriations - Such amount as may be necessary to defray the
expenses of the Commission in the implementation of this Act shall be appropriated
inthe current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the amount shall be regularly
sourced from the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8 Separability Clause. — In the event that any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected by
such declaration

SEC. 9 Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10.Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its full and complete publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper
of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,