EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
]
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
]
Second Regular Session 
]
SENATE
S.B. No. 1986
ot till- I’lii 17
21 JAN 18 A 9 55
RELi
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
DECLARING THE LUZON DATUM LOCATED IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF MOGPOG, PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE A TOURIST 
SPOT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The province of Marinduque, dubbed as the “Heart of the Philippines”, 
is a heart-shaped island in the Southern Tagalog Region. Coincidentally, the 
island is also the geographical center of the archipelago and a stone marker 
marks its significance in Philippine geography.
To signify that it is the geographical center of the Philippine archipelago, 
a marker has been fixed in what is known as the Luzon Datum of 1911 or 
Station Balanacan. This piece of stone marker is located on top of a hill that 
locals call Mataas na Bundok or Mt. Mataas in Barangay Hinanggayon, town 
of Mogpog. It is the primary geodetic reference or origin of all geological 
surveys in the Philippines which means all maps and surveys made in the 
country use the Luzon Datum as a reference point.
In other countries, their geographic centers have become tourist 
attractions due to their creative initiative to build large stone monuments in


these centers. Examples of these countries are Japan, India, Taiwan, 
Australia and the United States of America.
With this current global trend of setting up monuments in their 
respective geographic centers, it is the right time to convert the Luzon Datum 
of 1911 into a modern-day tourist spot. As such, the development of a large 
stone monument in the Luzon Datum is feasible and beneficial, as it will help 
this country’s tourism and will also identify that the Luzon Datum is a 
significant geographical point in the Philippine archipelago.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is^armestly sought.
IN GATCHl


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
]
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1986
of il;i-
21 JAN 18 A 9 55
r.Ec^
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
AN ACT
DECLARING THE LUZON DATUM LOCATED IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF MOGPOG, PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE A TOURIST 
SPOT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Luzon Datum of 1911 or Station Balanacan, is a stone marker 
located on top of Mataas na Bundok or Mt. Mataas in Barangay Hinanggayon, 
Municipality of Mogpog, Province of Marinduque. It is the primary geodetic 
reference or origin of all geological maps and surveys in the Philippines.
Sec. 2. The Luzon Datum is hereby declared as a tourist spot. As such, its 
development shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), and 
shall be subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of 
tourist spots. The DOT shall prioritize the establishment of a tourist center to 
be known as the Luzon Datum Tourist Center.
Sec. 3. Within six (6) months after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in 
coordination with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority 
(TIEZA) and concerned agencies of the government, shall prepare a tourism


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
development plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance of 
such appropriate facilities and infrastructure as shall encourage tourism in 
the area: Provided, That said development plan shall ensure the preservation 
and conservation of the natural beauty and historical significance thereof.
Sec. 4. The DOT shall take immediate steps to implement the development 
plan and incorporate the same in its tourism development program for the 
ensuing calendar year.
Sec. 5. 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 from internally-generated funds of the 
DOT.
Sec. 6. 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. 7. This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,