Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metra Mila

Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 9085

Introduced by Representative Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare the Second Legislative District of Bohol as the
“Farm Tourism Capital of the Province of Bohol.”

Republic Act No. 10816, otherwise known as the “Farm Tourism
Development Act of 2016,” defines “farm tourism” as the practice of attracting
visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational and recreational
purposes. It involves any agricultural-or fishery-based operation or activity that
brings to a farm, visitors, tourists, farmers and fisherfolks who want to be
educated and trained on farming and its related activities, and provides a venue
for outdoor recreation and accessible family outings.

Known as the “Jewel of the Philippines,” Bohol is the tenth largest island
in the country. It is popular among local and foreign tourists because of its
stunning landscape. It is divided into three legislative districts including the
Second Legislative District which is composed of the municipalities of Bien
Unido, Buenavista, Carlos P. Garcia, Clarin, Danao, Dagohoy, Getafe,
Inabanga, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad and Ubay.

The people in the Second Legislative District of Bohol mainly depend on
farming and fishing for their livelihood. Moreover, the climate is very
conducive to farming, thus the district is a hub of many farming and fishing
activities and operations in the province.

Many municipalities in the Second Legislative District are pioneers in
farm tourism operations. The Municipality of Ubay has the largest and oldest
government livestock facility in the Philippines, the Ubay Stock Farm.
Imported breeds of cattle are found in it. It also serves as a research facility for
cattle, carabao, goat, sheep and even ostrich breeding, and one of the accredited

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livestock technology training facilities of the Department of Agriculture in the
Visayas and Mindanao.

The Ubay Agri-Park, the first of its kind in the Visayas, was also
launched in Ubay to boost the agriculture and tourism industries in the area.
The park helps promote farm tourism or agri-tourism and is a showcase of
Bohol’s advances in farm technology. Ubay is also home to Sinandigan Multi-
Species Hatchery which is the biggest multi-species hatchery in the Philippines.
It is a fishery infrastructure and mariculture park established to enable the fish
farmers to become totally independent from wild stocks to promote a more
stable food security for the province. The facility is producing fingerlings of
various fish species such as milkfish (bangus), groupers (/apulapu) and siganids
(kitong, danggit).

Another frontrunner is the Municipality of Bien Unido, which is now
recognized as the “Seaweeds Capital in Central Visayas.” People in this
municipality are into seaweeds farming, an industry wherein seaweeds are
either made into gel capsules, soap, toothpaste, slippers and other food
packaging containers.

Other nearby municipalities are offering their tourism services and
attractions with special farm activities and products.

Under this proposed measure, farmers engaged in farm tourism activities
may avail of the incentives provided for them under the law. This proposed law
will serve as a catalyst for the development of agriculture and fishery
communities, and will provide additional income for farmers, farmworkers and
fisherfolks, particularly in the Second Legislative District of Bohol. It also aims
to promote local farm tourism industries and raise the awareness on the
importance of agriculture in economic and cultural development.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

C. AUMENTADO


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon Gity, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,__ 9085

Introduced by Representative Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

AN ACT
DECLARING THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF BOHOL AS
THE FARM TOURISM CAPITAL OF THE PROVINCE OF BOHOL

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

SECTION 1. The Second Legislative District of Bohol composed of the
municipalities of Bien Unido, Buenavista, Carlos P. Garcia, Clarin, Danao,
Dagohoy, Getafe, Inabanga, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Talibon,
Trinidad and Ubay, is hereby declared as the farm tourism capital of the
Province of Bohol. All local government units in the second legislative district
may avail of the privileges and benefits provided under Republic Act No.
10816, otherwise known as the “Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016.”

SEC. 2. All local government units in the Second Legislative District of
Bohol shall coordinate with the Department of Tourism, the Department of
Public Works and Highways, the Department of Transportation and the

Department of Agriculture, in the prioritization of infrastructure projects that

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will promote farm tourism in the Province of Bohol in accordance with the
provisions of “Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016.”

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,