REPRE,
Republic of the Philippines Oi SEN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 401 0

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
DECLARING THE JOVELLAR CAVE AND UNDERGROUND RIVER LOCATED

IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF JOVELLAR, PROVINCE OF ALBAY, AN
ECOTOURISM SITE, PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND
MANAGEMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Municipality of Jovellar in the Province of Albay hosts the Jovellar Cave and
Underground River, locally known as the Quitinday Underground River, situated in Barangay
Quitinday. The Provincial Government of Albay promotes this site as a navigable underground
river attraction, underscoring its growing tourism value for southern Albay.

Cave and subterranean river systems are sensitive resources that require clear legal
protection and science-based management. The National Caves and Cave Resources
Management and Protection Act, Republic Act No. 9072, declares as state policy the
conservation, protection, and management of caves and cave resources and strengthens
coordination among government agencies and resource users for scientific, educational,
recreational, and tourism purposes. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources
issued Administrative Order No. 2003-29 to operationalize this law, including the national
system for cave assessment, listing, and classification, which governs allowable uses and
access controls.

Pursuant to this framework, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has
classified the Jovellar Underground River, also referred to as Quitinday Cave, as a Class II
cave. Class II caves contain sensitive values and may include hazardous sections, and are
generally open only to guided educational visits or experienced cavers, with the possibility of
seasonal or permanent closures of some sections. This classification establishes the legal basis
for regulating visitor access, setting carrying capacity, instituting safety protocols, and
restricting activities that could degrade the site.


Philippine ecotourism policy likewise directs that development be low impact,
conservation oriented, and community participatory. Executive Order No. 111 created the
National Ecotourism Development Council and mandated national guidelines, complemented
by the Joint DENR-DOT Memorandum Circular No. 98-02 that sets criteria for ecotourism
site development, including uniqueness, accessibility, carrying-capacity based facilities,
benefit sharing with local communities, and sustained environmental monitoring. These
instruments provide an enabling framework for a managed, conservation-led tourism program
for Jovellar.

Declaring the Jovellar Cave and Underground River an ecotourism site through this
measure will align on-the-ground management with national law and policy while delivering
local benefits. The Act will mandate the preparation of a sustainable development and
management plan led by the Department of Tourism in coordination with the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the
concerned local governments. The plan should, at minimum, do the following: identify
conservation zones and regulated use areas consistent with the cave’s Class II status; determine
visitor carrying capacity and guided route design; establish water quality and biodiversity
monitoring consistent with Department of Environment and Natural Resources and
Department of Health standards; and create a benefit-sharing scheme that channels a defined
share of fees to local barangays and people’s organizations for conservation, safety, and
livelihood.

The site’s formal recognition by the Province of Albay and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources cave classification together demonstrate both the tourism
potential and the conservation sensitivity of the resource. A statute will consolidate these
strands by codifying a governance structure, enforcing existing prohibitions under Republic
‘Act No. 9072 and related environmental laws, and requiring periodic reporting to Congress on
ecological condition, visitor numbers, and community benefits. This will help ensure that the
Jovellar Underground River becomes a model of community-based, conservation-first
ecotourism for Albay and the Bicol Region.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

4010

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
DECLARING THE JOVELLAR CAVE AND UNDERGROUND RIVER LOCATED
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF JOVELLAR, PROVINCE OF ALBAY, AN
ECOTOURISM SITE, PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND
MANAGEMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Jovellar Cave and Underground
River Ecotourism Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. Itis the policy of the State to pursue a balanced approach
to tourism and environmental conservation, ensuring that the development of natural attractions
such as caves and underground rivers is consistent with the principles of sustainable
development, biodiversity conservation, and community empowerment.

SEC. 3. Ecotourism Site Declaration. The Jovellar Cave and Underground River,
located in Barangay Quitinday and adjoining areas in the Municipality of Jovellar, Province of
Albay, is hereby declared an ecotourism site.

SEC. 4. Development and Management. The Department of Tourism (DOT), in
coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Provincial Government of Albay,
and the Municipal Government of Jovellar, shall prepare a sustainable ecotourism development
and management plan for the Jovellar Cave and Underground River. The plan shall:

(a) ensure conservation of the cave system, underground river, and surrounding
ecosystems;

(6) provide for infrastructure consistent with environmental carrying capacity,
including visitor centers, access roads, and sanitation facilities;



(c) regulate and monitor tourist activities to prevent environmental degradation; and

(@) establish benefit-sharing mechanisms to ensure that local communities, including
indigenous peoples and barangay residents, directly benefit from tourism revenues.

SEC. 5. Prohibited Acts. To protect the integrity of the Jovellar Cave and Underground
River, the following acts are prohibited within the declared ecotourism area:

(a) dumping of waste and pollutants;

(b) illegal logging, quarrying, or mining activities;

(c) unregulated entry into restricted zones of the cave and underground river; and
(@ other activities that endanger biodiversity, water quality, or geological features.

Violations shall be penalized under existing environmental laws, including the National
Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 9072).

SEC. 6. Funding. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The DOT, DENR, and the concerned LGUs
may also mobilize resources from ecotourism fees, grants, donations, and partnerships with
private stakeholders.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DOT, DENR, DPWH, and the concerned LGUs shall jointly
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,