HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representativ:
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REIST TON UNIT
BILLS «iN iNDEX SERVICE

1406

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill seeks to declare Lantawan Ecopark located in Barangay San Roque
and Barangay Crossing, Municipality of Kitcharao, Province of Agusan del Norte as a
priority tourism development area and incorporate it in the Philippine National
‘Tourism Development Plan.

‘The Lantawan Ecopark is nestled on a mountainside overlooking the pristine
and expansive Lake Mainit. It hosts a forest reserve and the Regional Wildlife Rescue
Center; and within its vicinity is an extensive system of fairly unexplored caves that
were found to contain archaeological remains. The Ecopark also has available
spaces ideal for meetings, incentives, conventions, and events (MICE) facilities. On
its base is the lakeshore that can be developed into a water sports center and a
jump-off point for island hopping within Lake Mainit.

In account of these assets, Lantawan Ecopark certainly has the potential to
become a prime ecotourism and water sports destination that can propel the
tourism industry of Agusan del Norte. This valuation of the Ecopark is further
bolstered with the Department of Tourism - Caraga endorsing the concreting of the
road leading to the area in the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program. However,
budget limitations at the municipal and provincial levels prevent the provision of
support facilities in the area thus; the tourism potential is not maximized.

Through this bill, it is hoped that the national government, through the
Department of Tourism’ and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone
Authority, will be able to provide technical and funding assistance to the holistic
development of Lantawan Ecopark to ensure that its natural beauty and historical
assets are preserved and that the socio-economic benefits of tourism are felt by the
locals.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

AN ACT
DECLARING THE LANTAWAN ECOPARK LOCATED IN BARANGAY
SAN ROQUE AND BARANGAY CROSSING, MUNICIPALITY OF
KITCHARAO, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL NORTE AS A PRIORITY
TOURISM SITE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. The  _Lantawan — Ecopark —(9°26’14.42"N,
125°33’13.69"E) located in Barangay San Roque and Barangay
Crossing, Municipality of Kitcharao, Province of Agusan del Norte is
hereby declared a priority tourist development area. As such, the
Department of Tourism (DOT) is mandated to incorporate it in the
Philippine National Tourism Development Plan.

SECTION 2. The DOT, in coordination with the Tourism
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, shall within one (1) year
after the approval of this Act prepare a tourism development plan for
the area that is cognizant of its environmental and historical
significance; and undertake the implementation of the said plan.

SECTION 3. The DOT shall issue rules and regulations as it may
deem necessary for the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 4. The budget necessary to the implementation of the
provisions of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the
DOT under the General Appropriations Act or internally generated
funds of the TIEZA, or both.


SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,