.' 
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16TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
t@t\!;r \If HI" ,~Htrbf~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
,"" 
t\~Y 26 P 7. :39 
1.J 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. _=2,-,786 
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA 
AN ACT DECLARING ROXAS BOULEVARD IN METRO MANILA AS A TOURISM 
ZONE, SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN 
THEREIN AS A NATIONAL PARK, AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION 
OF FUNDS AS INITIAL AMOUNT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAID PARK 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
What we know today as Roxas Boulevard used to be called Cavite Boulevard, 
which was part of American Architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham's plan for 
beautifying the city of Manila. He visited the Philippines in 1905, which was the height 
of the City Beautiful movement, a trend in the early 1900s in North America for making 
cities beautiful along scientific lines. Burnharn also had leading roles in the 
development of Chicago and Washington, D.C. in the United States. 
The boulevard was subsequently renamed Dewey Boulevard to honor the 
American Admiral George Dewey, under whose command the Spanish navy was 
defeated in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. The boulevard was again renamed as 
Heiwa Boulevard in 1941 during Japanese Home Rule, and finally renamed Roxas 
Boulevard in the 1960s to honor President Manuel Roxas, our fifth Philippine 
president. 
Roxas Boulevard has welcomed hundreds of presidents, heads of state, prime 
ministers, kings and queens, and other dignitaries during official visits to the 
Philippines. The boulevard has been an integral part of the nation's history and it 
continues to play an important role in the country's development. As a major roadway 
from all NAIA terminals, the boulevard serves as the nearest tourist link to Philippine 
tourism amenities such 
as hotels, restaurants, commercial establishments, 
embassies, government offices, museums, historical sites and markers, and National 
Parks. 
Currently, the responsibilities for Roxas Boulevard are divided among various 
government agencies and LGUs, resulting in a lack of standardization over the 
improvements and infrastructure, as well as challenges in the implementation of 
projects concerning the boulevard. 
1 


The passage of this bill would see the redevelopment of the 7.6 kilometer 
stretch of Roxas Boulevard as a National Park, to rejuvenate the boulevard and 
improve the space for the benefit of the general public. This bill also seeks to declare 
this park as a tourism zone to capitalize on the various historical and cultural assets in 
the area, as well as one of the country's most spectacular sunsets. Under this bill, the 
Roxas Boulevard National Park and tourism zone would be under the overall 
supervision of theh Department of Tourism, through its attached agency, the National 
Park Development Committee, to be renamed the Public Parks Development 
Authority. 
Republic Act 9594, or The Tourism Act of 2009, provides that it is the policy of 
the State to declare tourism as an indispensable element of national economy and an 
industry of national interest and importance. Tourism 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. Under the supervision of one national agency -
in close 
coordination with the relevant local government units and appropriate government 
agencies - the Roxas Boulevard National Park shall be a single, unified tourism 
development, one which will better contribute to the nation's economy and further the 
policy of the State. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
TOR SONNY ANGARA 
2 


16TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
"1::; 
11AY 26 P 2 :39 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2786 
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA 
AN ACT DECLARING ROXAS BOULEVARD IN METRO MANILA AS A TOURISM 
ZONE, SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN 
THEREIN AS A NATIONAL PARK, AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION 
OF FUNDS AS INITIAL AMOUNT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAID PARK 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
1 
Section 1. Short Title. 
This Act shall be known as "The Roxas Boulevard 
2 
National Park and Tourism Zone Act of 2015." 
3 
4 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
5 
promote sustainable ecotourism industry to attract local and foreign tourists. 
6 
7 
Section 3. Creation of Roxas Boulevard National Park and declaring it as a 
8 
tourism zone. The Roxas Boulevard, including two-lane service road, its sidewalks 
9 
and the Manila Baywalk is hereby declared as the Roxas Boulevard Park. The 
10 
Roxas Boulevard is more particularly described as the eight-lane major arterial 
11 
national road with a two-lane service road designated as Radial Road 1 that 
12 
connects the City of Manila with Pasay City and Parafiaque City. The road runs 
13 
north-south direction from Rizal Park in manila and ends in Parafiaque city, at the 
14 
intersection of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Road. 
While Manila 
15 
Baywalk is a two-kilometer promenade in the City of Manila that stretches between 
16 
the United States of America Embassy and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 
17 
18 
The Roxas Boulevard Park is also hereby declared as a tourism zone and shall be 
19 
accorded priority development program by the Department of Tourism. 
20 
21 
Section 4. 
Functions and Powers of the National Parks Development 
22 
Committee over the Roxas Boulevard Park. The Roxas Boulevard National Park 
23 
is hereby placed under the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of Tourism 
24 
(DOT), through the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), in consultation 
25 
and coordination with the local government units concerned and other appropriate 
1 


1 
national agencies and offices, which shall implement a program for the proper 
2 
planning, development, maintenance, protection, and sustainability of the said park. 
3 
4 
The NPDC shall have the following functions and powers over, among others: 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
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i. 
ii. 
iii. 
iv. 
v. 
vi. 
The prime mover of plan preparation and implementation for the Roxas 
Boulevard Park; 
The clearing house for projects to be undertaken at the Roxas 
Boulevard Park; 
To facilitate the hiring of the appropriate number of personnel with the 
proper training and expertise, who shall be aSSigned to the Park; 
To undertake by itself or through another government agency, the 
necessary construction, 
landscaping, 
lighting, 
and 
such 
other 
improvements necessary for the development of the park; 
To enter into contracts as well as purchase the necessary tools needed 
for the maintenance and sustainability of the Roxas Boulevard Park; 
and 
To perform all other acts necessary, convenient, and expedient to carry 
out the mandate provided herein. 
21 
Section 5. Inter-Agency Technical Working Group. An Inter-Agency Technical 
22 
Working Group (IA TWG) shall be organized to render assistance to NPDC in terms 
23 
of regulating, controlling, anmd monitoring the over-all development of Roxas 
24 
Boulevard Park, geared toward promotion of economic growth, tourism, peace and 
25 
order, traffic, and environment protection. 
26 
27 
Section 6. 
Coordination with 
Other Government Offices and 
Private 
28 
Establishments. The NPDC may call on departments, bureaus, offices, agencies or 
29 
instrumentalities of the Government, private establishments, institutions, and 
30 
commercial establishments to encourage their involvement in the implementation 
31 
and monitoring projects in Roxas Boulevard Park. All departments, bureaus, offices, 
32 
agencies or intrumentalities of the government are enjoined to extend such 
33 
assistance and cooperation as the NPDC or the DOT may need in the execution of 
34 
its duties and responsibilities, 
35 
36 
Section 7. Board of Trustees. All decisions relative to the Roxas Boulevard Park 
37 
shall be decided by the governing Board of the National Parks Development 
38 
Committee, unless otherwise properly delegated to the Executive Director of the 
39 
National Parks Development Committee. 
40 
41 
The Mayors of the Cities of Manila, Pasay and Paranaque shall be appointed as ex-
42 
officio members of the Board whenever matters regarding the Roxas Boulevard 
43 
Park are discussed. 
44 
45 
Section 8. Tourism Development Plan of the Roxas Boulevard. The Secretary 
46 
of the Department of Tourism shall take such steps as may be necessary for the 
47 
immediate implementation of this Act. 
In view of this, Secretary of Tourism shall, 
2 


1 
within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this law, ensure that there will be Tourism 
2 
Development and Master Plan for the Roxas Boulevard Park which shall be 
3 
consistent with the National Tourism Development Plan and Republic Act 9593 or 
4 
the "Tourism Act of 2009". 
5 
6 
The DOT and the NPDC and other concerned agencies of the government, shall 
7 
delineate well defined geographic areas with the the tourism zone and coordinate the 
8 
integrated development of these areas for the optimum use of natural assets and 
9 
attractions, as well as 
existing infrastructure facilities; 
Provided, That said 
10 
development shall ensure the preservation and historic significance of tourist 
11 
attractions, as well as the preservation of natural resources. 
12 
13 
Section 9. Appropriations. The Secretary of Tourism shall immediately include in 
14 
the DOT's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall include 
15 
the annual General Appropriations Act and/or internally generated funds of the 
16 
Department. To ensure that there will be initial funding for the Roxas Boulevard 
17 
Park, The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) shall 
18 
allocate Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) for the immediate clearing operations 
19 
and necessary repairs in the park. 
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Section 10. Separability Clause. If any proVision of this Act or this application of 
22 
such provisionto any person or circumstance is declared invalid or unconstitutional, 
23 
the remaining provisions, which are not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
24 
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Section 11. 
Repealing Clause. 
All laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, 
26 
presidential decrees, or any other issuances or part thereof, contrary to or 
27 
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
28 
modified accordingly. 
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Section 12. 
Effectivity. 
Those Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
31 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3