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Republic of the Philippines fey° E-Filed ™
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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= DATE _July 14,2022
* TIME 1:45pm *

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1998

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare Barangay Malico of the Municipality of San
Nicolas in the Province of Pangasinan as Ecotourism Zone.

Ecotourism involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and
cultural heritage are the primary attractions. It is intended to offer tourists
an insight into the impact of human beings to the environment, and to
foster a greater appreciation of the natural habitats.

Barangay Malico (Malico) of the Municipality of San Nicolas is
fortunate to be home to an untapped ecotourism destination which has
been laying unclaimed for the past several years. A barangay which has
shrugged off modern comfort for years, Malico rests on the crest of the
Caraballo Mountains with an altitude of 1,675 meters above sea level.It
has a land area of 1,618 hectares, more or less, nurtured by indigenous
people mostly from the Kalanguya Tribe. Cocooned by mother nature with
a cold climate as that of the City of Baguio, Malico produces temperate
crops like strawberries and other upland vegetables. It is dotted with pine
trees which are mute to Malico’s abundant cultural and wartime history.
It is also dubbed as the second summer capital of the Philippines. Aside
from the cold weather, Malico has a viewdeck which offers a breathtaking
sunset view over the plains of Pangasinan. A hundred meters from the
viewdeck also lies a Sherman tank of the United States’ 32n¢ Infantry
Division, which became known as the “Red Arrow Division”, a witness to
the gruelling battle during the second world war and a favorite photo spot
for tourists abounding Malico. To this day, Japanese tourists visit the


WWII Peace Memorial Park in Malico, a park for Japanese fallen heroes.
Had the late President Marcos not been exiled, it would have been
developed and tagged as Marcos City.

There is also the Villa Verde Trail-Historically significant, it is the
place of one of the fiercest battles between the Filipino, American and
Japanese forces during the 2”¢ World War. Much has been said about the
landing of General Douglas McArthur at Lingayen Gulf, but little emphasis
has been made on the bloody skirmishes between the 32" Division of the
U.S, Sixth Army and General Tomoyuki Yamashita’s 14th Infantry Division
where thousands of gallant soldiers fell, mostly in stand up fights, along
the terrains of the Villa Verde Trail as evidenced by numerous foxholes,
spent bullets and casings, the Sherman tank, and the WWII Peace
Memorial Park.

The Villa Verde Trail commonly known as the Villa Verde Road is a
major link connecting the Ilocos Region to Cagayan Valley via Santa Fe,
Nueva Vizcaya. Motorists originating from Pangasinan and Region III need
not negotiate the Dalton Pass to reach Sta. Fe. The Villa Verde Road is now
under major rehabilitation.

Recently, Malico has become a favorite destination to hikers, bikers,
and tourists. Before the pristine view, cultural and historical heritage of
Malico is lost to the perils of urbanization, there is a need to equally protect
the same through appropriate legislative measures such as its declaration
as ecotourism zone. With its declaration, the State can advance Malico’s
development without losing sight of its cultural, historical, and
anthropological heritage.

Hence, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

MARL! . PRIMICJAS-AGABAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1998

Introdu

AN ACTDECLARING BARANGAY MALICO IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
SAN NICOLAS, PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN AN ECOTOURISM ZONE
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Barangay Malico in the Municipality of San Nicolas,
Province of Pangasinan, is hereby declared as an ecotourism zone.
As such, its development shall be prioritized by the Department of
Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the

development of ecotourism zones.

SEC. 2. Within six (6) months after the approval of this Act, the DOT
in coordination with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone
Authority and other concerned agencies of the government, shall
prepare a tourism plan involving the construction, installation and
maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure as
shall encourage tourism in the area: Provided, That the development
plan shall ensure the preservation of the natural beauty and

historical significance in the area.


SEC. 3. The DOT shall take immediate steps to implement the
tourism development plan and incorporate the same in its tourism

development program for the ensuing calendar year.

SEC. 4. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Department’s
program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and internally
generated funds of the DOT.

SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Secretary of the DOT shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for its proper implementation.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,