Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRHSHNTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousEisLiNo.5242
Introduced by Representative DAVID "Jay-Jay" C. SUAREZ and
ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUARHZ
HXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 2, Chapter I of Republic Act 9593, also known as The Tourism Act of 2009, states:
"The State declares Tourism as an indispensable element of the national economy and an
industry of national  interest and importance,  which must be harnessed as an engine  of
socio-economic growth and cultural affirmation to generate investment, foreign exchange
and  employment,  and to  continue to  mold an enhanced  sense  of national  pride  for all
Filipinos."
As a tourist destination, the province of Quezon is endowed with many natural wonders.
One of the most visited places in our province is the municipality of Dolores, which was
established in  1834.   The name pertains to La Virgen Maria de los Dolores.  Gobemador
Heneral Gabriel de Torres issued a decree establishing the boundary of the new "p#eb/a"
of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores, now popularly known as Dolores.
Dolores is about 98 kilometers south of Metro Manila, and is located at the foot of Mt.
Banahaw, a protected landscape under Republic Act No. 9847, otherwise known as Mount
Banahaw-San  Cristobal Protected Landscape.  The  said Mt Banahaw is  a very  popular
hiking and mountaineering site.
The town of Dolores is  gifted by nature with streams, falls, rock formations, cave pits,
gigantic  trees,  forests  and  a  lot  of attractions  both  for  religious  pilgrims  and  tourists.
Kinabuhayan and  Sta.  Lucia, Kubli, Lumbo Springs, Bangkong-Kahoy Valley, Lukong
Valley Farm, Bato Spring,  Gunao Lake, Dels Garden and Resort, are among its hidden
gems.
It is also a renowned pilgrimage destination especially during the Lenten Season: notably
Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine and pilgrimage sites in Mt. Banahaw were visited by more or
less 7,000 people in 2018.


Such endowments  are  an opportunity for the municipality's tourism  industry.  Dolores'
development of its Agri-Eco-Tourism will benefit its constituents, especially the farmers
of high value crops that are being patronized by tourists such as coconut, rambutan, citrus,
lanzones and other tropical fruits. Other sectors will likewise benefit such as retail business
of agricultural supply, meat and vegetable stalls, dry goods, drug stores, sari-sari stores,
bakeries and eateries at the public market.
This measure was filed in the  18th Congress,  and passed on third reading.  If Dolores is
declared as a must-see tourist destination, it will not only boost its tourism industry but
also the economic and cultural development of the municipality, perhaps most jmportant]y
the preservation of its bio-diversity and ecology.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRES S
First Regular Session
HousEisifLNo.5242
Introduced by Representative DAVID "Jay-Jay" C. SUAREZ
AN ACT
DECLARING THE MUNICIPALITY 0F DOLORES, PROVINCE 0F QUEZON,
A TOURIST DESTINATION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERHFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Representatives Of the Philippines in Congress
as.sembled:
SECTION 1. The Municipality ofDolores, Province of Quezon, is hereby declared
a tourist destination. As such, its development shall be prioritized by the Department of
Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of tourist
destinations.
SEC. 2.  Within one ( 1 ) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in coordination
with  the  Department  of Public  Works  and  Highways  (DPWH)  and  other  concerned
agencies  of the  government,  shall  prepare  a  tourism  development  plan  including  the
construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure
that shall  improve the overall feature of the area thereby ensuring the accessibility and
security of tourists: Provj.cJccJ, That the development plan shall ensure the preservation and
conservation of the historic significance of the area.


SEC. 3.  The DOT and its concerned attached agencies shall take immediate steps
to implement the tourism development plan that will suit the needs of the Municipality of
Dolores and shall incorporate the same in its tourism development program for the ensuing
calendar year.
SEC. 4. The  Secretaries of the DOT and DPWH shall  include in their respective
Department's  program  the  implementation  of this  Act,  the  funding  of which  shall  be
included in the amunl General Appropriations Act and shall augment such allocation with
intemally generated funds of the DOT.
SEC. 5.  Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the
DOT,  in  consultation  with  the  municipal  government  of Dolores,  shall  promulgate  the
necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
SEC. 6.  All laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, presidential decrees and other
issuances inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or
amended accordingly.
SEC.  7.   This  Act  shall take  effect fifteen (15)  days  after its publication in the
O#cz.cr/ GczzeJ/e or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,