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Republic of the Philippines
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila a
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Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. _°304

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille F. Abueg-Zaldivar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare the Tau’t Bato Cave located in Barangay Ransang,
Municipality of Rizal, Palawan as a Tourist Destination. The Tau’t Bato Cave is in the heart
of the densely forested and remote Singnapan Valley.

In recent years, the trek to the Tau’t Bato Cave has been a must experience eco-
tourism adventure in the municipality. Tau’t Bato, which literally means People of the
Rock, is a tribal sub-group of the Palaw’an tribe who inhabit the bowl-shaped valley. To
get to the cave, tourists must traverse a 5-kilometer national highway to Sitio Balen-Balen
Road and from there take a 3 to 4-hour hike.

The site boasts of both cultural and natural treasures, as Singnapan Valley itself is a
gateway to Mt. Mantalingahan, the tallest peak in the province.

The Tau't Bato Cave has long been flocked to by anthropologists, writers,
mountaineers, environmentalists, and students. The protection and preservation of this
cultural and natural tourist attraction must be enjoined.

While the local government of Rizal fully encourages the tourism potential of the
area, it is undeniable that support by the National Government, through the Department of
Tourism, will further improve tourism and income generation in the locality.

In view of the policy of the State that tourism is “an indispensable element of the
national economy and an industry of national interest and importance, which must be
harnessed as an engine of socioeconomic 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,” as declared in Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known
as “The Tourism Act of 2009,” the approval of this bill is earnestly recommended.

Hektor an

Representative, 2™ District of Palawan


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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. _©904

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille F, Abueg-Zaldivar

AN ACT
DECLARING TAU’T BATO CAVE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF RIZAL,
PROVINCE OF PALAWAN AS A TOURIST DESTINATION, PROVIDING FOR
ITS DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Tau’t Bato Cave located in Barangay Ransang, Rizal,

Palawan is hereby declared a tourist destination. As such, it shall be accorded with

priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and shall be subject to the

rules and regulations governing the development of a tourist destination.

SEC. 2. The Department of Tourism, in accordance with the local government
units and other concerned agencies of the government shall, within one (1) year after
the approval of this Act, prepare a development plan involving the construction,
installation, and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure as shall
enhance tourism in the area; Provided, That said development plan shall ensure the

preservation and conservation of the natural resources of the area.

SEC. 3. The Department of Tourism shall take immediate steps in
implementing the tourism development plan that will suit the natural characteristic of
Magtayob Falls and shall incorporate the same in its overall development plans and
programs for national implementation.

SEC. 4. It shall also be the responsibility of the DOT to promote Tau’t Bato

Cave as a tourism area in all its national, regional, and local promotion programs.


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SEC. 5. The DOT shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. The Secretary of the Department of Tourism shall include in the
Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into

law and thereafter.

SEC. 7. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive orders or parts

thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended accordingly.

SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,