NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
\V
of flu- £. e( !ri|>
22 AUG 15 P6 :24
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
AN ACT
DECLARING THE PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE A TOURISM ZONE, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Province of Southern Leyte is home to beautifui tourist destinations, such 
as Taglinao Falls, Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove Site, Crater Lake, Fatima Hills, and 
Guinsaugon Lake. The historical Limasawa, where the first Christian Mass was held 
and is considered the birthplace of Christianity in the Philippines, is located in Southern 
Leyte.
Southern Leyte is famous for its world-class dive sites, caves, extreme 
adventure sites, waterfalls, safari, river trekking, crater lake trekking, fish feeding, 
and resort islands.1
To further boost tourism in Southern Leyte, the Department of Public Works 
and Highways (DPWH) has been upgrading the road networks leading to five tourism 
sites in Leyte which are targeted to be completed within the year.2
This measure proposes to establish the Province of Southern Leyte as a 
Tourism Zone and to prioritize further development of the province for tourism. This 
will increase the number of tourists visiting the province, provide livelihood to its 
inhabitants, and usher sustainable and responsible tourism in the region. r”
FKANClS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
1 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/! 138699
2 Ibid.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
of the
72 AUG 15 P6 :24
Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
AN ACT
DECLARING THE PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE A TOURISM ZONE, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Southern Leyte Tourism Zone. - The Province of Southern Leyte
2 
is hereby declared a tourism zone. As such, its development shall be prioritized by the
3 
Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways, subject
4 
to the rules and regulations governing the development of tourism zones.
5 
Section 2. Tourism Development Plan. - Within one (1) year after the
6 
approval of this Act, the Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Tourism
7 
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and other concerned agencies of the
8 
government, shall prepare a tourism development plan providing for the development,
9 
maintenance, improvement, and restoration of tourism sites, where appropriate, in
10 
conformity with set standards, including the construction of hotels, resorts,
11 
restaurants, recreational facilities, and other appropriate facilities and infrastructure:
12 
Provided, That said development plan shall ensure the preservation of the ecological
13 
balance and natural beauty of the area.
14 
Section 3. Implementation of Tourism Development Plan. - The
15 
Department of Tourism shall take immediate steps to implement the development plan
16 
and incorporate the same in its tourism development program for the ensuing calendar
17 
year.
1


1 
Section 4. Improvement of Roads and Infrastructure. - Upon the
2 
promulgation of this Act, the Department of Pubiic Works and Highways, in
3 
coordination with the Department of Tourism, shail implement the construction and
4 
improvement of roads and other infrastructure necessary in the deveiopment of the
5 
Province of Southern Leyte and incorporate the same in the Department's
6 
infrastructure program.
7 
Section 5. Appropriations. - The Secretaries of the Department of Tourism
8 
and the Department of Pubiic Works and Highways shali inciude in their respective
9 
Department's program the impiementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
10 
included in the annuai Generai Appropriations Act, and shall augment such allocation
11 
with internally generated funds of the Department of Tourism.
12 
Section 6. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days
13 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Tourism shali promulgate the
14 
necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
15 
Section 7. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
16 
held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall
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continue to be in fuii force and effect.
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Section 8. Repealing Clause. - AN laws, executive orders, prociamations,
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presidentiai decrees, rules and regulations, and other issuances inconsistent with any
20 
of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
21 
Section 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
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foiiowing its compiete pubiication in the OfTicial Gazette or in a newspaper of generai
23 
circulation.
Approved,