Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Presidential Proclamation No. 895, Series of 2005, declared the Northern Negros Forest 
Reserve a protected area to be known as the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP). Many 
areas within the NNNP can benefit from revenues from ecotourism activities, revenues that can 
fund biodiversity conservation and reforestation. 
Mount Kanlandog, located between Mount Mandalagan and Mount Kanlaon, is one of 
the areas within NNNP with great ecotourism potential. Relay stations or transmitters of several 
radio and TV companies, and telecommunication towers have been constructed at the top of 
Mount Kanlandog. Recently, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) has 
donated its telco tower at Mount Kanlandog to the municipal government of Murcia. 
The Municipality of Murcia has outlined plans to develop the site for ecotourism. It has 
applied for Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas, as required by Republic Act No. 11038 
which governs the management of areas within the NNNP. 
But the construction of additional structures to serve tourists will entail adequate 
funding. The municipal government of Murcia will also need the technical assistance of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources to design facilities according to the 
standards for structures constructed or installed within protected areas. Declaring Mount 
Kanlandog an ecotourism tourism will channel the necessary funding and technical assistance 
from the National Government to ensure sustainable development of the area. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ 
October 3, 2023
11:09 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ 
AN ACT 
DECLARING MOUNT KANLANDOG LOCATED IN BARANGAY CANLANDOG, 
MUNICIPALITY OF MURCIA, PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, AN 
ECOTOURISM 
ZONE, 
PROVIDING 
FOR 
ITS 
DEVELOPMENT 
AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Mount Kanlandog located in Barangay Canlandog, Municipality of 
Murcia, Province of Negros Occidental, is hereby declared an ecotourism zone. 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 ecotourism zones.   
SEC. 2. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in coordination 
with the local government of the Municipality of Murcia and concerned agencies of the 
government, shall prepare a tourism development plan involving the construction, installation, 
and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure and facilities that shall enhance tourism in the 
area: Provided, That said development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of 
the natural ecosystems and resources of the area: Provided, further, That any activities and 
developments to be carried out in the area should conform with the concept of ecotourism as 
provided in the national ecotourism strategy jointly issued by the Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources and the DOT. 
SEC. 3. The DOT and its concerned attached agencies shall take immediate steps to 
implement the tourism development plan that will suit the natural characteristics of Mount 
Kanlandog, and shall incorporate the same in its tourism development program for the ensuing 
calendar year. It shall also include Mount Kanlandog in all its national, regional and local 
promotion programs. 
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 from internally generated funds of the DOT. 
SEC. 5. The DOT shall transfer the management of the facilities to the local 
government of the Municipality of Murcia within two (2) years after construction through a 
memorandum of agreement.  
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SEC. 6. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the 
DOT, in consultation with the local government of the Municipality of Murcia, shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. If any provision of this Act or any part hereof is declared unconstitutional, the 
same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions. 
 
SEC. 8. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations and executive orders, or parts 
thereof, contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,