Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Que3on City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

3974

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Tourist arrivals in Camarines Sur grew 25 fold, from 58,000 in 2005 to 2.5 million in
2010 and in 2012' when the province rose to become the top tourist destination of
the country during those years. This rise has continued until present due largely to
the growing recognition of Camarines Sur as a major sports and adventure tourism
destination—with the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) at the helm of
this growth and cognizance. Dubbed as the “best wakeboard park in the world”, the
six-hectare complex is the first world-class watersports complex in the Philippines
and in Asia

The CWC has been credited as the main pull for tourists to the province and the
main reason for it topping the Department of Tourism’s tourist arrivals list year after
year, citing 3 million arrivals in 20132. It is situated within the Provincial Capitol
Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur, the first and only Local Government Unit-operated
Tourism Economic Zone pursuant to Republic Act No. 7916. The National Economic
and Development Authority once cited the tourism record of CWC as a
“breakthrough in Bicol tourism industry” while the regional office of the DOT has
constantly recognized its importance to the tourism industry in the region.

CWC in Camarines Sur pioneered several world-renowned championship events

! http:/nap, psa.gov.ph/pressreleases/2015/PSA-PR-201502-NS1-01_cif-asp
* http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/580135/camarines-sur-tourism-figures-down


and tournaments in Wakeboarding, being the first to host the annual WWA Wake
Park World Championships in 2008 (whch it also hosted in 2009, 2010, 2016 and
2017), the Asian Wakepark Championship in 2008 and 2009, the Reef Asian
Wakefest in 2010, the King of Wake — Asian Wakepark tour of WWA in 2012 and
2013, as well as the Philippine Wakeboard Nationals, which it hosted every year
from 2006 to present.

The complex has attracted water sports enthusiasts from all over the world and has
consistently been a favorite by both foreign and local travelers until today. In 2016,
CWC signed on for a three-year agreement to host the world championships—
having hosted the event since the beginning and is a destination sought out by riders
around the world. Attendees of the event often stay longer than needed thanks to
CWC's affordability and world class amenities.

Wakeboarding as a sport was created from a combination of water skiing,
snowboarding and surfing techniques. It has sustained an increasing popularity
across countries, with wakeboarding parks popping up in popular tourist destinations
worldwide such as in the UK, Australia, and the US. It has become one of the world’s
fastest growing sports and is gradually being recognized globally. Locally, the
Camarines Sur Watersports Complex has become a top destination for tourists
during summer vacation®.

This bill intends to ride the growth of wakeboarding and watersports in the country,

especially in Camarines Sur, and help promote tourism in the province by declaring
Camarines Sur as the Wakeboarding Capital of the Philippines.

The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

}
LUIS RAY) ID \Y” F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.

* http://news.abs-cbn, comvlife/04/15/1 7/wakeboarding-sit¢-difarayo-fa/camsur


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3974

—_—_—
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.
eee
AN ACT
DECLARING THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR AS THE WAKEBOARDING
CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Camarines Sur as the
Wakeboarding Capital of the Philippines Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. = It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote and support a viable and sustainable tourism industry throughout the
country. Towards this end, the Province of Camarines Sur, being a top destination
for water sports in the country, is hereby declared the Wakeboarding Capital of the
Philippines and shall rationalize all efforts pertaining to the Promotion of tourism and
making the tourism industry a major source of livelihood and an avenue for the
generation of employment.

As such, it shall be accorded priority development and promotion by the Department
of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agencies.


SECTION 3. Wakeboarding Capital of the Philippines. - Pursuant to the
abovementioned public policy, the Province of Camarines Sur is hereby declared or
granted the official designation as the Wakeboarding Capital of the Philippines.

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this
Act.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations

or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after

publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in
the Philippines.

Approved,