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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4253

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS “XJ” D. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Camiguin is the second smallest province in the Philippines in both land area and
population. The pear-shaped island province has a total land area of about 238 square
kilometers and measures approximately 23 kilometers at its longest and 14 kilometers
at its widest. It is said that much of the island was formed through earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions and is hence called the island born of fire. Indeed, the island has
more volcanoes (seven) than towns (five).

While small, the island's enchanting beauty, warm and friendly people, and its scores of
natural attractions keep visitors coming. A steady increase in the influx of foreign and
domestic tourists to Camiguin has been observed in recent years.' Now, Camiguin is
one of the country's top tourist destinations.’

Tourism is recognized as one of the major engines for inclusive growth and
‘employment. Tourist expenditures have repercussive effects throughout the economy
as these create income and employment. The tourism industry, being labor-intensive,
not only employs those who would otherwise be unemployed but increases the demand
for labor throughout the economy as it affects demand for goods and services needed
to cater to the requirements of tourists and travellers. The impact of tourism on
employment leads to changes in income distribution and increased and new
opportunities for the youth, women, and even migrant workers.

The National Statistics Coordinating Board reported that the poverty incidence among
families in Camiguin in 2012 was at 41%. There being no other major industry in the
island, the development of tourism is considered one of the primary solutions to
reducing poverty in Camiguin.

Laying the groundwork for a tourism industry that will drive inclusive growth depends a
whole lot on synergy and convergence between local government units, the national
government, the private sector, and other stakeholders. This bill seeks to foster such
synergy. First, it identifies specific tourist attractions in Camiguin and mandates
concerted government action in developing and promoting such attractions. A system
for identifying potential tourist attractions is also provided for. Second, it requires the
organization of a Camiguin Tourism Council (CTC), which will be the primary policy-
making, planning, programming, and coordinating body in the development of tourism in
Camiguin and administration of tourism development areas therein. The CTC will also
be responsible for making the Camiguin Tourism Development Plan, which will be
incorporated into the National Tourism Development Plan. National government
agencies that play crucial roles in the development of tourism are mandated to advise

‘ According to the National Statistics Coordinating Board, 253,051 tourists visited Camiguin in 2008, 267,776 in 2009,
and 290,980 in 2010. According to the Camiguin Provincial Tourism Office, 368,812 tourists visited Camiguin in 2011
while 400,653 did in 2012.

Department of Tourism, National Tourism Development Plan 2011-2016.


and assist the CTC in the performance of its functions. Finally, certain national
government agencies are enjoined to include support for tourism development in
Camiguin among its priority programs and coordinate with each other in programming
projects for Camiguin.

It is expected that with the passage of this measure, Camiguin will attain and serve as a

model for sustainable and inclusive growth and development through tourism. Hence,
the support of the Members of Congress for the passage of this measure is eamestly

sought.

XAVIER JESUS “XJ” D. ROMUALDO-


10

11

12

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo,___ 4253

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS “XJ” D. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
DECLARING THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AREAS IN THE PROVINCE OF
CAMIGUIN, ORGANIZING THE CAMIGUIN TOURISM COUNCIL, MANDATING
SUPPORT FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMIGUIN,
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 Camiguin Tourism Development Act.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to support tourism
as vehicle for job creation and economic growth and development. To this end, the State shall
endeavor to provide the proper mechanisms and infrastructure for sustainable tourism
development and promote and develop certain areas and sites identified as tourist destinations or

attractions or having potential for tourism in order to drive and propel inclusive growth

throughout the country.

SEC. 3. Camiguin Tourism Development Areas. ~ The tourism development areas (TDAS) in the

Province of Camiguin, shall include the following:

‘A. Mount Timpoong — Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument — located within the municipalities of
Mambajao, Catarman, Sagay, and Mahinog, with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 09 —
34.43, East Longitude = 124 — 23 — 11.44, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing N.78
— 45W, with a distance of 1,419.29 meters and ending at a point marked “28-1” bearing S.82

—12W with a distance of 671.20 meters and covering an area of 22,041 square meters.


1

10

a

12

13

14

15

16

17

20

21

22

23

24

26

27

28

29

B, TDAsin the Municipality of Mambajao

1. White Island — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 15 — 35.55, East Longitude = 124 — 39
— 15.53, beginning at a point marked cor “I”, bearing N.81 — 33W, with a distance of
6,557.17 meters and ending at a point marked “9-1”, bearing $.22 — 31E , with a distance of

12.66 meters and covering an area of 5,557 square meters.

2. Katibawasan Falls ~ with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 ~ 12 ~ 52.33, East Longitude = 124

~ 42 ~ 58.92, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing $.04 ~ 05E, with a distance of

4,068.6 meters and ending at a point marked “9-1” with a distance of 7.45 meters and

covering an area of 1,319 square meters.

3. Tangub Hot Spring — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 13 — 20,69, East Longitude =
124 — 38 — 17.34, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing S.69 — 06W, with a distance
of 8,890.99 meters and ending at a point marked “6-1”, bearing S.55 — 09W, with a distance

of 42.06 meters and covering an area of 3,440 square meters.

4, Sa-ay Cold Spring — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 ~ 13 — 20.69, East Longitude = 124
— 38 — 17.34, beginning at a point marked cor “I”, bearing S.21 — 04W, with a distance of
3,392.79 meters and ending at a point marked “15-1”, bearing N.88 ~ 21E, with a distance of

59.61 meters and covering an area of 4.439 square meters.

5. Ardent Hibok-Hibok Hot Spring — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 13 — 42.68, East
Longitude = 124 — 41 — 11.39, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing $.50 — 06W with
a distance of 3,900.15 meters, ending at a point marked “13-1”, bearing N.13 ~ 44E, with a

distance of 25.18 meters and covering an area of 44,600 square meters.

C. TDAs in the Municipality of Mahinog


10

u

12

14

15

16

7

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

. Magsaysay Island, more popularly known as Mantigue Istand — with coordinates, North

Latitude = 9 — 10 ~ 22.82, East Longitude = 124 ~ 49 — 15.77, beginning at a point marked
cor “1”, bearing N.65 ~ 00E with a distance of 4,228.20 meters, and ending at a point marked
“11-12”, bearing N.72 ~ 23E, with a distance of 29.75 meters and covering an area of 54,411

square meters.

. Taguines Lagoon ~ with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 ~ 08 ~ 11.34, East Longitude = 124

~ 47 — 34.29, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing 8.16 ~ 45E, with a distance of
2,176.36 meters and ending at a point marked “22-23”, bearing N.04 ~ 16E, with a distance

of 24.56 meters and covering an area of 197,247 square meters.

. Macao Cold Spring — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 11 — 50.98, Bast Longitude =

124 ~ 46 -25.54, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing N.17 — 58W, with a distance of
4,874.63 meters and ending at a point marked “10-1”, bearing 8.72 — 43W, with a distance of

26.40 meters and covering an area of 1,290 square meters.

. Queobe Eco Park — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 ~ 07 ~ 56.39, East Longitude = 124

— 47 ~ 42.56, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing N.55 ~ 40E, with a distance of
76.01 meters and ending at a point marked “28-1”, bearing N.24 ~ 50K, with a distance of

22.64 meters and covering an area of 34,639 square meters.

. TDAs in the Municipality of Catarman

. Sto. Nifio Cold Spring — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 09 - 06.01, East

Longitude = 124 — 40 — 20.72, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing S.72 — 50E, with
a distance of 127.09 meters and ending at a point marked “15-1”, bearing N.03 — 02E, with a

distance of 62.70 meters and covering an area of 4,655 square meters.

- Bura Soda Water Spring ~ with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 - 10 — 19.40, East Longitude

= 124 — 39 -19.62, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing: N.19 ~ 28E, with a distance


14

15

16

17

18

19

20

24

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

of 425.44 meters and ending at a point marked “13-1”, bearing N.22 — 04W, with a distance

of 8.54 meters and covering an area of 3,616 square meters.

. Sunken Cemetery — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 12 — 29.1, East Longitude = 124 —

37 — 53.07, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing: N.78 — 01W, with a distance of
867.80 meters and ending at a point marked “9-1”, bearing S.67 — 38E, with a distance of

79.84 meters and covering an area of 58,546 square meters.

. Catarman Church Ruins, also known as the Old Church Ruins or the Guiob Church Ruins —

with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 ~ 12 ~ 11.07, East Longitude = 124 ~ 37 ~ 57.99,

beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing: S.63 — 14W, with a distance of 937.30 meters

and ending at a point marked “10-1”, bearing N.42 — 14W, with a distance of 48.33 meters

and covering an area of 329,828 square meters.

. Walkway to Mount Vulcan Daan, also known as the Walkway to the Old Volcano and

Stations of the Cross — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 12 — 46.25, East Longitude =
124 — 38 — 14.49, beginning at a point marked cor “I”, bearing N.26 — 50W, with a distance
of 737.89 meters and ending at a point marked “15-1”, bearing N.78 — S9W, with a distance

of 113.82 meters and covering an area of 329,828 square meters.

. Tuasan Falls — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 10 — 42.55, East Longitude = 124 — 40

~ 45.99, beginning at a point marked cor “I”, bearing N.25 — S7E, with a distance of
1,980.25 meters and ending at a point marked “9-1”, bearing N.40 ~ 18E, with a distance of

19.13 meters and covering a total area of 3,322 square meters.

:, TDAs in the Municipality of Sagay

. Binangawan Falls — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 09 — 44.89, East Longitude = 124

— 44 -01.74, beginning at a point marked cor bearing N.10 — 15E, with a distance of



12

13

14

aS

16

17

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

6,291.20 meters, ending at a point marked “4-1”, bearing $31 — 13B, with a distance of

194.96 meters and covering an area of 196.867 square meters.

2. Langojanan Ki Inggoy — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 06 — 36.14, East
Longitude = 124 ~ 44 ~ 23.75, beginning at a point marked cor “I”, bearing N.77 ~ 42B, with
a distance of 1,834.39 meters and ending at a point marked “6-1”, bearing S.88 — 33W, with

a distance of 7.15 meters and covering an area of 2,959 square meters.

3. Pamunglo Spring — with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 07 — 13.66, Fast Longitude = 124
~ 44 — 23.75, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing N.20 ~ 41E, with a distance of
12.69 meters and ending at a point marked “12-1”, bearing N.66 — 38W, with a distance of

45.39 meters and covering an area of 2,288 square meters.

‘DAs in the Municipality of Guinsiliban

1. Moro Watch Tower — with coordinates, North Latitude = 09 — 05 ~ 57.54, East Longitude =
124 — 47 — 05.60, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing S.78 — 43E, with a distance of
99.41 meters and ending at a point marked “4-1”, bearing S.16 — 27E, with a distance of 3.39

meters and covering an area of 100 square meters.

2. Mount Ilihan -- with coordinates, North Latitude = 9 — 05 — 33.91, East Longitude = 124 — 46
— 00.51, beginning at a point marked cor “1”, bearing $.68 — 38W, with a distance of
2,041.72 meters and ending at a point marked “7-1”, bearing N.49 — 53W, with a distance of

77.85 meters and covering an area of 41,126 square meters.

SEC. 4. Identification and Declaration of Other Sites as Tourism Development Areas. — Other
areas in the Province Camiguin that have potential for tourism, such as springs, waterfalls,
streams, lakes, and other bodies of waters, beaches, marine areas, mountains, forests, historical
or cultural sites, and other natural or man-mad sites and attractions that may be of interest to

tourists, shall be included among the tourism development areas under this Act after the conduct


10

art

12

13

14

16

7

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

of a survey and verification by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ~ National
Mapping and Resource Information Authority, in coordination with the Provincial Government
of Camiguin, and the declaration of the same by the Camiguin Tourism Council as a tourism

development area

SEC. 5. Camiguin Tourism Council. ~ (A) There shall be organized the Camiguin Tourism
Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, which shall be the primary policy-making,
planning, programming, and coordinating body in the development of tourism in Camiguin and
administration of tourism development areas therein, The Council, which shall convene upon the

effectivity of this Act, shall be composed of:

a, The Provincial Governor of Camiguin, as Chairperson

b. The Municipal Mayors of the municipalities of Camiguin, who shall elect from among
themselves the Council’s Vice-Chairperson

c. A Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Camiguin

d. Two representatives from the private sector, nominated by private sector tourism
industry organizations in Camiguin and appointed by the Chairperson of the Council,

who shall serve for a period of two years

The Council may create such committees and provide for the functions and the memberships

thereof to assist it in the proper and effective performance of its fiunctions.

(B) The following shall serve as advisors to and shall provide assistance and support to the

Council in the performance of its functions:

a. The Regional Director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 10

b. The Regional Executive Director of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) in Region 10

c. The Regional Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in

Region 10


10

cv

12

13

14

45

16

17

18

19

20

2a

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

d. The Regional Director of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in

Region 10

The Council may call on other government agencies and offices and to provide advice and
assistance on matters relating to the performance of its functions and the development of tourism

in Camiguin.

(©) The Council shall establish appropriate systems and procedures to ensure that constituencies,
sectors, and groups, whose interests may be affected by tourism development in Camiguin, are
given sufficient opportunities to be heard. The Council shall pursue consultations with relevant
sectors and constituencies, conduct research, and engage the services and assistance of experts

and other resource persons, as may be needed in the performance of its functions.

SI

. 6. Camiguin Tourism Development Plan, ~ The Camiguin Tourism Couneil (CTC) shall
craft and develop the Camiguin Tourism Development Plan, which shall be incorporated with
and be part of the National Tourism Development Plan under Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise
known as the National Tourism Act of 2009, and shall be implemented by the appropriate local

government units and/or national government agencies.

SEC. 7. National Government Support to Tourism Development in Camiguin. - The DOT, in
cooperation with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the Tourism
Promotions Board, and other concerned government agencies and instrumentalities, shall
promote the tourism development areas in Camiguin and support and coordinate the integrated

development of the same.

‘The DPWH and the DOTC, including the latter’s attached agencies, shall, in coordination with
the DOT and the CTC, give priority to and program the construction and improvement of the

necessary infrastructure to support tourism development in Camiguin and incorporate the same

in their annual infrastructure programs.


20

21

22

23

24

26

27

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of Tourism, after due consultation
with the DENR, DPWH, DOTC, NEDA, CTC, and other relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate
the rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act within 60 days after the

effectivity of the same.

SEC. 10, Appropriations, ~ The amounts necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall
be charged against any appropriate and available items in the General Appropriations Act for the
current fiscal year. Thereafter, the DOT, DENR, DPWH, and DOTC, and their respective
attached agencies, shall include the implementation of this Act in their programs, the funding for

which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

SEC. 11. Congressional Review. ~ Three years after the effectivity of this Act and every three
years thereafter or as often as the need arises, Congress, through the appropriate committee of
cither the House of Representatives or the Senate, shall conduct a review and evaluation of the

implementation and impact of this Act
SEC. 12. Repeals. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders and issuances, proclamations, rules and
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this

Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Separability. — If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the other

provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,