NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1927
if:
1,’f 
•1 rta*?
23 FEB 27 P3 23
RtCEiVcD BY:
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
DECLARING THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN MARIANO AND THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF PALANAN, PROVINCE OF ISABELA, AS ECOTOURISM 
ZONES, TO BE JOINTLY KNOWN AS THE SAN MARIANO-PALANAN 
ECOTOURISM CORRIDOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The municipalities of San Mariano and Palanan, Province of Isabela, host an 
array of high-potential ecotourism attractions on either side of the majestic Sierra 
Madre Mountains, within a single day's drive from Metro Manila.
The Municipality of San Mariano is home to a pristine system of virgin 
waterfalls, forest areas for hiking, swimming, camping and other sports, and even a 
crocodile conservation sanctuary. The San Mariano Rearing Station in Barangay 
Minanga and the Philippine Crocodile Conservation Center at the ISU-San Mariano 
Campus are jump-off points to a distinctive wildlife and nature thrill that offers total 
eco-tourism experience. The amazing circuit of pristine waterfalls notably, the 
Amisan Falls in Barangay Del Pilar, Minangaoan Falls, Disusuan Falls and Cadsalan 
Falls showcases an array of well-preserved attractions teeming with rare flora and 
fauna. Barangay Marannao has a small water impounding area perfect for water 
sports and lake cruising.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Ocean-facing Municipality of Palanan is home to one of 
the longest and widest stretches of white sand beach found in Luzon. Due to poor


infrastructure, the rest of the nation is deprived of access to its enchanting Blue 
Lagoon and pristine white beaches, notably Dicotcotan and Didagungan. The 
Kanasanggyan Creek and Cave, Digoyo Lake and Disadsad Falls accent the 
surrounding rainforests and the protected marine resources with a magical and 
unforgettable charm. For extreme adventure with a historical twist, the Aguinaldo 
Trail which traverses San Mariano and Palanan could be developed as a trail sports 
route which also commemorates a significant moment in Philippine history.
Despite their great potential, however, these tourism attractions are severely 
underdeveloped due to lack of attention and low levels of investment from the 
national government and private stakeholders. While it is true that more 
infrastructure projects have been recently allocated to improve access to Palanan, it 
is still a paltry sum of the needed investment to transform the San Mariano-Palanan 
zone into a vaunted self-sustaining ecotourism corridor. This is also a decisive step 
towards the actual and inevitable future of the District. Just as we are extending 
resources to tap the ecotourism potentials of our rainforests and hidden shores, the 
cultivation of the San Mariano-Palanan ecotourism corridor has found its due time.
This legislation seeks to break this cycle of inattention and outright neglect by 
declaring the municipalities of San Mariano and Palanan, respectively, as a single 
unified Ecotourism Corridor using the nomenclature of existing tourism laws and 
regulations. Their hope is that the clear mandate of this bill, if passed into law, will 
push the national government to prioritize the development of much-needed tourism 
infrastructure in these areas. This is timelier than ever considering the Department 
of Tourism's re-orientation towards domestic tourism promotion in the face of the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
It cannot be overemphasized that the development of San Mariano and 
Palanan as an ecotourism corridor will serve to jumpstart the local economy, 
generate jobs, and provide livelihood to families who are still suffering under the 
pandemic.


This is the Senate counterpart measure of HB No. 5962 principally authored 
by Hon. Ed Christopher Go, the Representative of the Second District of Isabela.
In view of the foregoing, I recommend the approval of this measure.
:(/i^
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1927
fH? Senate
of lltc
23 FEB 27 P3:23
RtCElVEOBV „
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
DECLARING THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN MARIANO AND THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF PALANAN, PROVINCE OF ISABELA, AS ECOTOURISM 
ZONES, TO BE JOINTLY KNOWN AS THE SAN MARIANO-PALANAN 
ECOTOURISM CORRIDOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. The Municipality of San Mariano and the Municipality of Palanan in
2 
the Province of Isabela are hereby declared as ecotourism zones, to be jointly known
3 
as the San Mariano-Palanan Ecotourism Corridor. Pursuant thereto, the development
4 
of the San Mariano-Palanan Ecotourism Corridor shall be prioritized by the
5 
Department of Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the
6 
development of ecotourism zones.
7 
Sec. 2. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the municipal
8 
governments of San Mariano and Palanan shall, in coordination with the DOT,
9 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public
10 
Works and Highways (DPWH), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority
11 
(TIEZA) and concerned agencies of the government, prepare a comprehensive
12 
tourism development plan for the San Mariano-Palanan Ecotourism Corridor. The
13 
development plan shall include the identification, validation, construction, installation
14 
and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure to enhance
15 
ecotourism in the areas: Provided, That said development plan shall ensure the
1


1 
preservation of the cultural heritage of the areas and the conservation of its
2 
biophysical assets, and incorporate strategies and programs to promote sustainable
3 
economic opportunities for the local communities: Provided, further, That the
4 
implementation of the tourism development plan shall be included in the respective
5 
budgets of the municipal governments of San Mariano and Palanan.
6 
The municipal governments of San Mariano and Palanan, The DOT, DPWH
7 
and TIEZA shall prioritize the construction and completion of the San Mariano-
8 
Palanan Road in order to ensure the accessibility of tourists.
9 
Sec. 3. The DOT shall assist the municipal governments of San Mariano and
10 
Palanan in the implementation of the tourism development plan by providing
11 
technical assistance in tourism capacity building. It shall also include the San
12 
Mariano-Palanan Ecotourism Corridor in its national and regional promotion
13 
programs.
14 
Sec. 4. The funding for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the
15 
respective annual budgets of the municipal governments of San Mariano and
16 
Palanan. The DOT may augment such allocation with internally-generated funds.
17 
Sec. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the municipal
18 
governments of San Mariano and Palanan shall, in consultation with the DOT and
19 
concerned agencies of the government, promulgate rules and regulations to
20 
implement this Act.
21 
Sec. 6. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or
22 
invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
23 
Sec. 7. All laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, proclamations,
24 
presidential decrees and other issuances inconsistent with any of the provisions of
25 
this Act are hereby deemed repealed or amended accordingly.
26 
Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
27 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,