Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
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Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to declare Barangay Malico of the Municipality of San 
Nicolas in the Province of Pangasinan as Ecotourism Zone. 
Ecotourism involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and 
cultural heritage are the primary attractions. It is intended to offer tourists 
an insight into the impact of human beings to the environment, and to 
foster a greater appreciation of the natural habitats. 
Barangay Malico (Malico) of the Municipality of San Nicolas is 
fortunate to be home to an untapped ecotourism destination which has 
been laying unclaimed for the past several years. A barangay which has 
shrugged off modern comfort for years, Malico rests on the crest of the 
Caraballo Mountains with an altitude of 1,675 meters above sea level.It 
has a land area of 1,618 hectares, more or less, nurtured by indigenous 
people mostly from the Kalanguya Tribe. Cocooned by mother nature with 
a cold climate as that of the City of Baguio, Malico produces temperate 
crops like strawberries and other upland vegetables. It is dotted with pine 
trees which are mute to Malico’s abundant cultural and wartime history. 
It is also dubbed as the second summer capital of the Philippines. Aside 
from the cold weather, Malico has a viewdeck which offers a breathtaking 
sunset view over the plains of Pangasinan. A hundred meters from the 
viewdeck also lies a Sherman tank of the United States’ 32nd Infantry 
Division, which became known as the “Red Arrow Division”, a witness to 
the gruelling battle during the second world war and a favorite photo spot 
for tourists abounding Malico. To this day, Japanese tourists visit the 
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WWII Peace Memorial Park in Malico, a park for Japanese fallen heroes. 
Had the late President Marcos not been exiled, it would have been 
developed and tagged as Marcos City. 
There is also the Villa Verde Trail.Historically significant, it is the 
place of one of the fiercest battles between the Filipino, American and 
Japanese forces during the 2nd World War. Much has been said about the 
landing of General Douglas McArthur at Lingayen Gulf, but little emphasis 
has been made on the bloody skirmishes between the 32nd Division of the 
U.S. Sixth Army and General Tomoyuki Yamashita’s 14th Infantry Division 
where thousands of gallant soldiers fell, mostly in stand up fights, along 
the terrains of  the Villa Verde Trail as evidenced by numerous foxholes, 
spent bullets and casings, the Sherman tank, and the WWII Peace 
Memorial Park. 
The Villa Verde Trail commonly known as the Villa Verde Road is a 
major link connecting the Ilocos Region to Cagayan Valley via Santa Fe, 
Nueva Vizcaya. Motorists originating from Pangasinan and Region III need 
not negotiate the Dalton Pass to reach Sta. Fe. The Villa Verde Road is now 
under major rehabilitation. 
Recently, Malico has become a favorite destination to hikers, bikers, 
and tourists. Before the pristine view, cultural and historical heritage of 
Malico is lost to the perils of urbanization, there is a need to equally protect 
the same through appropriate legislative measures  such as its declaration 
as ecotourism zone. With its declaration, the State can advance Malico’s 
development without losing sight of its cultural, historical, and 
anthropological heritage. 
Hence, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
AN ACT DECLARING BARANGAY MALICO IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
SAN NICOLAS, PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN AN ECOTOURISM ZONE 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Barangay Malico in the Municipality of San Nicolas, 
Province of Pangasinan, is hereby declared as an ecotourism zone. 
As such, its development shall be prioritized by the Department of 
Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the 
development of ecotourism zones. 
SEC. 2. Within six (6) months after the approval of this Act, the DOT 
in coordination with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone 
Authority and other concerned agencies of the government, shall 
prepare a tourism plan involving the construction, installation and 
maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure as 
shall encourage tourism in the area: Provided, That the development 
plan shall ensure the preservation of the natural beauty and 
historical significance in the area. 
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SEC. 3. The DOT shall take immediate steps to implement the 
tourism development plan and incorporate the same in its tourism 
development program for the ensuing calendar year. 
 
SEC. 4. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Department’s 
program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and internally 
generated funds of the DOT.  
SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 
Secretary of the DOT shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for its proper implementation. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,