Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2088 
Introduced by Representative Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution mandates the State to protect and advance the right 
of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm 
and harmony of nature (Section 16, Article II). 
This bill seeks to declare the Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, 
located in Barangay San Antonio, Cabagan, Isabela, as an ecotourism zone. 
The area, previously declared a Critical Habitat under DENR Administrative 
Order No. 2012-01, is home to the endemic and threatened Philippine Wild 
Duck (Anas luzonica) and other migratory bird species that depend on the 
sanctuary’s lagoons and forested wetlands. 
By declaring it an ecotourism zone, this measure strengthens the 
conservation, protection, and sustainable development of the sanctuary, 
while creating opportunities for community-based tourism that supports the 
local economy. 
This bill has already been passed on Third Reading during the 19th 
Congress and represents the product of the collaborative efforts of the 
Committee on Tourism and relevant stakeholders. It incorporates provisions 
that ensure alignment with national biodiversity strategies and support for 
local participation. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO 
July 17, 2025
4:00 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2088 
Introduced by Representative Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE MALASI TREE PARK AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 
LOCATED IN BARANGAY SAN ANTONIO, MUNICIPALITY OF CABAGAN, 
PROVINCE OF ISABELA, AN ECOTOURISM ZONE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary 
1 
located in Barangay San Antonio, Municipality of Cabagan, Province 
2 
of Isabela, is hereby declared an ecotourism zone.  Pursuant thereto, 
3 
its development shall be prioritized and supported by the Department 
4 
of Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the 
5 
development of ecotourism zones. 
6 
SEC. 2. The Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary 
7 
Development Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby 
8 
created. It shall be composed of fifteen (15) members, as follows: 
9 
(a) Ex Officio Members
10 
(1) Mayor of the Municipality of Cabagan, as Chairperson;
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2 
 
(2) Head of the Municipal Tourism Office of the Municipality 
1 
of Cabagan, as Vice-Chairperson;  
2 
(3) Head of the Municipal Environment and Natural 
3 
Resources Office of the Municipality of Cabagan;  
4 
(4) Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer of 
5 
Isabela;  
6 
(5) Barangay Chairperson of Barangay San Antonio;  
7 
(6) Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau;  
8 
(7) Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and 
9 
Enterprise Zone Authority;  
10 
(8) Regional Director of DOT-Region II;  
11 
(9) Regional Director of DENR-Region II;  
12 
(10) 
Regional Director of the Department of Public 
13 
Works and Highways-Region II;  
14 
(11) 
DENR 
Provincial 
Environment 
and 
Natural 
15 
Resources Officer of Isabela; and  
16 
(12) 
Chairperson 
of 
the 
Municipal 
Fisheries 
and 
17 
Aquatic 
Resources 
Management 
Council 
of 
the 
18 
Municipality of Cabagan.  
19 
(b) Members Who Shall Represent Sectoral Concerns   
20 
(1) One (1) representative from an academic institution, 
21 
preferably from a university or college in the Province of 
22 
Isabela, with proven track record in or related to 
23 
ecotourism and critical habitat management;  
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3 
 
(2) One (1) representative from the private sector, preferably 
1 
a resident of the Province of Isabela, who is distinguished 
2 
in a profession or field of interest relevant to ecotourism 
3 
and critical habitat management; and  
4 
(3) One (1) representative from either non-government 
5 
organization (NGO) or people’s organization (PO) duly 
6 
accredited both by the DENR and the provincial 
7 
government of Isabela. The NGO or PO represented 
8 
should have been in existence for at least five (5) years 
9 
with proven track record in or related to ecotourism or 
10 
critical habitat management.  
11 
The ex officio elective members of the Council shall serve for the 
12 
duration of their respective terms of office to which they are elected. 
13 
The ex officio appointive members of the Council shall serve for 
14 
the duration of the period they hold the office to which they are 
15 
appointed. 
16 
The sectoral members of the Council shall be selected by the ex 
17 
officio members in a fair and transparent manner. They shall each 
18 
serve a term of three (3) years and may be reappointed for another 
19 
term.   
20 
The members of the Council shall serve without compensation, 
21 
but shall be authorized to actual and necessary traveling and 
22 
subsistence expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, 
23 
either in their attendance in meetings of the Council or in connection 
24 
with other official business authorized by a resolution of the Council, 
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4 
 
subject to existing rules and regulations. Each member shall have the 
1 
full capacity and accountability for decisions binding to the member’s 
2 
sector.   
3 
The municipal government of Cabagan shall provide a 
4 
Secretariat for the Council and the necessary funds to defray the 
5 
expenses to be incurred by the Secretariat in the performance of its 
6 
duties and responsibilities. 
7 
 
SEC. 3. The Council shall have the following functions: 
8 
(a) Formulate and implement the Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife 
9 
Sanctuary Development Plan, in consultation with the local 
10 
residents, businesses and other stakeholders;  
11 
(b) Assess and evaluate the potential impact of the development 
12 
to the environmental safety and well-being of the ecotourism 
13 
zone, communities and enterprises;  
14 
(c) Provide 
technical 
and 
financial 
assistance 
to 
the 
15 
communities within the ecotourism zone;  
16 
(d) Formulate rules and regulations in relation to the 
17 
maintenance and security of the ecotourism zone; and  
18 
(e) Perform other functions as may be necessary to carry out 
19 
the objectives of this Act.  
20 
 
SEC. 4. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the 
21 
Council shall prepare the Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary 
22 
Development Plan to enhance tourism in the area and ensure that 
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5 
 
the existing ecosystems, endemic wildlife species, as well as migratory 
1 
species, and naturally occurring flora and fauna and their habitats, 
2 
are preserved and protected. The Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife 
3 
Sanctuary Development Plan shall be formulated and implemented in 
4 
accordance with the Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Critical 
5 
Habitat Management Plan and pursuant to the provisions of Republic 
6 
Act. No. 9147, also known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation 
7 
and Protection Act.” 
8 
 
SEC. 5. The joint responsibility over the management of the 
9 
Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Critical Habitat as mandated 
10 
under DENR Administrative Order No. 2012-01 shall be transferred 
11 
from the DENR Region II Office and the municipal government of 
12 
Cabagan, to the Council.  For this purpose, the DENR Region II Office 
13 
and the municipal government of Cabagan shall coordinate with the 
14 
Council and provide the necessary technical assistance to ensure the 
15 
continued implementation of the Critical Habitat Management Plan. 
16 
The transfer of management of the Malasi Tree Park and 
17 
Wildlife Sanctuary Critical Habitat shall include all applicable funds, 
18 
records, property, assets, liabilities, equipment, and personnel: 
19 
Provided, That all personnel presently employed by the DENR-Region 
20 
II Office and the municipal government of Cabagan for the purpose 
21 
shall continue their service without diminution of rank, base pay, 
22 
allowance, and other benefits authorized under existing laws.  
23 
 


 
6 
 
SEC. 
6. 
The 
DOT 
shall 
assist 
the 
Council 
in 
the 
1 
implementation of the development plan by providing technical 
2 
assistance in tourism capacity building. It shall also include the 
3 
Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in its national and regional 
4 
promotion programs. 
5 
 
SEC. 7. The funding for the implementation of this Act shall be 
6 
included in the annual budget of the municipal government of 
7 
Cabagan. The DOT may augment such allocation with internally-
8 
generated funds.  
9 
 
SEC. 8. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, 
10 
the Council shall, in consultation with the municipal government of 
11 
Cabagan, DOT, DENR and concerned agencies of the government, 
12 
promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
13 
 
SEC. 9. If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
14 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions not affected 
15 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
16 
 
SEC. 10. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules 
17 
and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with any 
18 
of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
19 
accordingly.  
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SEC. 11. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
1 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
2 
circulation.  
3 
 
Approved,