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

RECEIVED

onre3_1 MAY er A)
TiME: |

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _5807

Introduced by Rep. Jose Enrique S. Garcia III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare the Balanga Wetland and Nature Park
(BWNP) in Barangay Tortugas, City of Balanga, Province of Bataan as a
special ecological tourism zone with a three-pronged goal of developing,
and promoting the area into a tourist destination, generating
investments and creating job opportunities, and protecting the natural
resources within the area including mangroves, other aquatic plant and
numerous migratory and local birds.

The BWNP is regarded as one of the most important feature of the
Balanga City landscape. It improves the environmental condition of the
area by protecting and improving water quality, providing wildlife
habitats, serving as a natural flood control, maintaining surface water
flow during dry season, supporting the fishing industry, and ensuring
biological productivity. The wetland also provides aesthetic value to the
surrounding community by reducing bank erosion and filtering trash
from the Manila Bay. It is an ideal “outdoor classroom and museum”
that showcases the beauty of nature and teaches about the value of
biodiversity.


Recreational activities including hiking, fishing, bird watching and
photography are also regular occurrences in the wetland. The Ibong Dayo
Festival is celebrated annually to highlight the migratory birds passing
through the wetlands.

In response to the influx of tourists, the local government of the
City of Balanga has constructed an information center and several view
decks and lookouts that offer a magnificent view of the birds in flight
with Mt. Samat as its backdrop. However, inadequate national support
has kept the BWNP from reaching its true potential as a tourist
destination. With the approval of this bill, the BWNP will finally get the
assistance needed to propel it to become a truly world class ecotourism
zone that is ecologically sustainable, responsible, participative,
culturally sensitive, economically viable and ethically and socially
equitable for the local community.

Support for this bill is earnestly sought.

JOSE (QUE S. GARCIA III
resentative
2m4 District, Province of Bataan


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5807

Introduced by Rep. Jose Enrique S. Garcia III

AN ACT
DECLARING THE BALANGA WETLAND AND NATURE
PARK, IN BARANGAY TORTUGAS, CITY OF BALANGA
AS A RESPONSIBLE, COMMUNITY-BASED
ECOTOURISM ZONE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFORE

SECTION 1. Creation. - The Balanga Wetland and Nature Park
(BWNP) in Barangay Tortugas, City of Balanga, Province of Bataan shall
be declared as a responsible, community-based special eco-tourism

zone.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State is mandated to
promote a tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable, responsible,
participative, culturally sensitive, economically viable, and equitable for
the local community. Towards this end, the Balanga Wetland and
Nature Park is hereby declared a special ecotourism zone. It shall be
accorded priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT)


and shall be subject to the rules and regulations governing the
development of ecotourism zones.

SECTION 3. Objectives. - Pursuant to the above declaration of
policy, the State shall endeavour to accomplish the following:

(a)

(b)

©)

Develop and promote responsible, community-based
ecological tourism as the core management strategy in the
development of the BWNP;

Ensure the conservation of the biodiversity and the
preservation of the said ecotourism park;

Develop tourism products and programs that will generate
employment and livelihood for the local residents concerned,
consistent with the preservation and maintenance of natural
resources;

(d) Guarantee that the financial and economic benefits of the

12)

tourism industry are equitably shared by, and distributed
among the local residents concerned by giving preference and
support to community and home-based tourism enterprises,
such as, but not limited to, micro and small businesses
including local inns, lodges and homestays, restaurants, food
and fruit stands, and other similar tourism oriented industries
and businesses;

Ensure that the quality of local tourism programs and
activities are educational and enriching for tourists and
visitors through the provision of orientation, educational and
tour programs by local tour operators, non- government
organizations (NGOs), the City of Balanga and the DOT; and

Guarantee that in the development and promotion of the local
tourism industry, the LGU of the City of Balanga shall
ensure that the needs of local residents for adequate water
supply, food, energy and local construction materials are first
secured and met.


SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a) Biodiversity Conservation refers to the practice of preserving the
variety of species and habitats, including inter alia, terrestrial,
marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological
complexes which they are a part of;

b) Community-Based Tourism refers to a form of tourism where the
local community and its residents have substantial control and
involvement in the development and management of the local
tourism industry and a greater portion of the economic gains
remain within the community;

Ecotourism refers to a form of sustainable tourism within a
natural area where community participation, protection and
management of natural resources, cultural and indigenous
knowledge and practices, environmental education and ethics,
as well as economic benefits are fostered and pursued for the
enrichment of host communities and the satisfaction of visitors;

C)

d) Homestay refers to a system of tourist accommodation where a
tourist stays with local residents and experiences the day-to-day
life within the local community;

e) Responsible Ecotourism refers to a form of sustainable tourism in
which both the tourism sector and the tourists take
responsibility in the protection, respect, and conservation of the
natural environment and the local culture and ways of life, and
where community participation as well as economic benefits are
fostered and pursued for the well-being of the local people and
visitors; and

f) Sustainable Tourism Development refers to the management of
resources in a manner that simultaneously meets the needs of
tourists and host locality; protects the opportunities for the
future; fulfils the economic and social needs of the district; and
preserves natural integrity, essential ecological processes,
biological diversity and a system that supports and perpetuates
life.


SECTION 5. Scope and Coverage. - This Act shall cover the
boundaries of the 11-hectare mangrove forest or the Balanga Wetland
and Nature Park at Barangay Tortugas, City of Balanga, Province of
Bataan.

The technical boundaries shall be undertaken by the DENR and
other agencies for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. Tourism Development Plan. -The DOT, in coordination
with the DENR, shall assist the City of Balanga in the formulation of the
Tourism Development Plan for the Balanga Wetland and Nature Park
that shall be complemented by a set of guidelines for a responsible,
community-based ecotourism. The tourism development plan shall
ensure the preservation of the eco-park and shall include the following
components:

a) Carrying capacity of the eco-park;

b) Specific site assessment;

c) Identification of strategic priorities;

d) Product development for local income generation;

e) Capacity-building for the local community to allow residents
therein to ably manage economically viable and responsible,
community-based ecotourism business enterprises;

f) Support for the formulation of local production groups and
networks, including the marketing and pricing of products; and

8) Marketing strategies that reflect the natural, social and
environmental integrity of the BWNP.

The process of developing the Tourism Development Plan for the
BWNP shall be participatory, from the bottom up, with the framework
to be provided by the DOT and DENR, in consultation with the Balanga
Wetland Development Council herein created.


SECTION 7. Formation of the Balanga Wetland and Nature Park
Development Council. - A multi-sectoral council to be known as the
“Balanga Wetland Development Council” shall be created, whose
members shall be co-terminous with the incumbent mayor of the City of
Balanga. It shall be composed of the following members:

a) The Mayor of the City of Balanga sitting as Chairperson;

b) The head of the City Tourism Office, sitting as Vice-
chairperson;

c) The head of the City Environmental and Natural Resources
Office;

d) Three (3) representatives from the private sector

SECTION 8, Functions and Responsibilities of the Council. The
council shall be responsible for the following:

a) Formulation and the implementation of the Tourism
Development Plan in consultation with the local residents,
businesses, and other stakeholders;

b) Assessment and evaluation of the potential impact of the
development to the environmental safety and well-being of
the site, communities, and enterprises;

c) Provision of technical and financial assistance to the
communities within the site;

d) Formulation of the rules and regulations in relation to the
maintenance and security of the ecotourism site; and

e) Performance of other functions as may be necessary to carry
out the objectives of this Act.

SECTION 9. Formulation of Guidelines and Standards. - The
concerned Protected Area Management Board of the DENR, DOT and
the Balanga Wetland Development Council, shall assist in the
formulation of local tourism standards ensuring that environmental
protection is integrated in the development of ecotourism plans.

The guidelines and standards shall:

(a)Raise the capacity of all stakeholders and ensure that best
practices are followed;


(b) Ensure optimal use of water and energy;

(c) Reduce waste and pollution through the encouragement of
recycling and other environmentally-sound waste management
reduction and disposal schemes;

(d)Prevent vandalism in the facilities of the eco-park; and

(e) Encourage the use of local produce and services, and support
the employment of local people.

SECTION 10. Coordination with National Agencies. - The DOT shall
closely coordinate with the government of the City of Balanga, as well as
the relevant regional offices of the DENR, DOLE, DPWH, DOTr, DA,
DepEd, DTI, DILG, the PNP, the MARINA, and other line agencies of
the government in the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The DOT, in
coordination with the DENR, and in consultation with the City
Government of Balanga, other concerned government agencies, and
stakeholders, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, shall
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 12. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Tourism shall
include in the Department's subsidy program, support for the capital
outlay requirements of the BWNP for the preliminary implementation of
this Act and enhancement of the facilities of the ecotourism zone which
shall be taken from the budget of the Department of Tourism for the
current fiscal year.

The budgetary allocations for the succeeding years shall be
included in the General Appropriations Act, subject to government
audit.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision
of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions


hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force
and effect.

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders proclamation and administrative regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect
immediately after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers
of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved.