Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives OS pave: sul 18 206
Quezon City, Metro Manila *

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7116

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING A NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES,
CREATING A SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Blessed with natural resources, the Philippines does not only have tourist
spots but also scenic roads almost as good or possibly even better than the
destination itself. Several roads in the country such as those in Benguet,
Mountain Province, Sagada, Bontoc, Zambales, Vigan, Albay, and Currimao, offer
spectacular panoramas of lush mountains, Spanish colonial towns, rice terraces,
waterfalls, turquoise seawaters, and other breathtaking views.

The protection and utilization of such natural resources are among the
primary duties of the State. Under Article XII of the 1987 Constitution, all natural
resources are owned by the State. Hence, exploration, development, and
utilization of such resources shall be under its control and supervision.

In recognition of this mandate, this bill seeks the establishment of the
National Scenic Byways Program intended for the preservation and protection of
the scenic roads in the country alongside the promotion of tourism and economic
development in these areas. Through this program, a designated route becomes
eligible for infrastructure improvements such as centers, overlooks and rest areas

as well as marketing promotion sites for tourism.
ALFRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Meteo Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7116

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING A NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES,
CREATING A SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - The Act shall be known as the “National Scenic
Byways Program.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall be defined as follows:

(a) “Byway” refers to a minor or secondary road or a road other than the main
road;

(b) ‘National Scenic Byway” refers to a road that is recognized for its
archaeological, cultural, historic, recreational, and/or scenic qualities;

(c) “Corridor” refers to the physical and visual relationship of the roadway to
its surroundings which is often categorized as a rural corridor or urban
corridor;

(d) “Corridor management plan” refers to a written plan developed by the
community/communities along a scenic byway which outlines the
mechanisms for the protection and enhancement of the byway’s intrinsic
qualities and characters that define the byway corridor;

(e) “Grants” refer to non-repayable, non-bearing assistance or aid, given either
through monetary or in kind, to encourage development or growth in the
area.


SECTION 3. Designation of Roads. - The Secretary of the Department of
Tourism (DOT) shall carry out a National Scenic Byways Program:

(a) Criteria - the DOT Secretary shall designate roads to be recognized under
the National Scenic Byways Program in accordance with the criteria
developed by the department.

(b) Nomination — to be considered for a designation, a road must be nominated
by a national government agency. Local government unit (LGU), or a civic
organization situated in the locality of the road to be nominated.

(c) Reciprocal Nomination — National government agencies, LGUs, and civic
organization shall notify each other regarding nominations made under this
subsection for roads that:

i. are within its jurisdictional boundary; or
ii, directly connected to roads which the national government agencies,
LGUs and civic organization are responsible.

SECTION 4. Grants and Technical Assistance. —

(a) In general - the DOT Secretary shall make grants and provide technical
assistance to national government agencies, LGUs and civic organizations
to:

i, implement projects on highways designated as a National Scenic
Byways; and

ii, plan, design, and develop a national government agency, LGU, and
civic organization National Scenic Byway Program

(b) Priorities ~ In making grants, the DOT Secretary shall give priority to:
i, each eligible project that is associated with a highway that has been

designated as a National Scenic Byway and that is consistent with

the corridor management plan for the byway;

each eligible project along a National Government agency, LGU or

civic organization scenic byway that is consistent with the corridor

management plan for the byway, or is intended to foster the

development of such a plan, and is carried out to make the byway

eligible for designation as a National Scenic Byway; and

ifi. each eligible project that is associated with the development of a
National Government agency, LGU or civic organization scenic byway

program.

SECTION 5. Establishment of Philippine’s Byways Resource Center. -

(a) In general - the DOT Secretary shall allocate funds made available to carry
out the establishment of the Philippines’ Byways Resource Center
(PBRC).The DOT shall oversee and manage the resources of the center.

(b) Technical Support and Education. -
i. Use of Funds. - The Center shall use funds allocated to the Center
under this section to continue to provide technical support and
conduct educational activities for the national scenic byways


program.

ii, Eligible Activities. - Technical support and educational activities
carried out under this sub-section shall provide local officials and
organizations associated with the National Scenic Byways, with
proactive, technical, and on-site customized assistance, including
training, communication (including a public awareness series),
publications, conferences, on-site meetings, and other assistance
considered appropriate to develop and sustain such byways and
roads.

SECTION 6. Eligible Projects. - The following are projects that are eligible for
Government assistance under this section:

(a) An activity related to the planning, design, or development of a National
Government agency, LGU or civic organization scenic byway program;

(b) Development and implementation of a corridor management plan to
maintain the scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, natural, and
archaeological characteristics of a byway corridor while providing for
accommodation of increased tourism and development of related amenities;

(c) Safety improvements to a National Government scenic byway, LGU scenic
byway or National Scenic Byway, to the extent that the improvements are
necessary to accommodate increased traffic and designation as a
Government scenic byway, civic organization scenic byway or National
Scenic Byway;

(4) Construction along a scenic byway of a facility for pedestrians and
bicyclists, rest area, turnout, highway shoulder improvement, overlook, or
interpretive facility;

(c) An improvement to a scenic byway that will enhance access to an area for
the purpose of recreation, including water-related recreation;

() Protection of scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, natural, and
archaeological resources in an area adjacent to a scenic byway;

(g) Development and provision of tourist information to the public, including
interpretive information about a scenic byway; and

(h) Development and implementation of a scenic byway marketing program.

SECTION 7. Limitation of Grants. - the DOT Secretary shall not make a grant
for any project that would not protect the scenic, historical, recreational, cultural,
natural and archaeological integrity of a highway or adjacent areas.

SECTION 8. Savings Clause. - The DOT Secretary shall not withhold any grant
or impose any requirement on a national government agency, LGU, or civic
organization as a condition of providing a grant or technical assistance unless the
requirement is consistent with the authority provided in this Act.


SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the
Department of Tourism, in consultation with all concerned stakeholders, shall,
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and
regulations to necessary implement the provisions of this law.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. — the amount of one hundred million pesos
(P100,000,000.00) for the establishment, initial operation, and maintenance of
the Philippine Byways Resource Center and the implementation of its program
shall be sourced from the appropriations for the Department of Tourism.
Subsequent subsidy for the years thereafter shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,