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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 696 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL “JAVI” L. 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.  
July 1, 2025
8:04 am
JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 696 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL “JAVI” L. 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 


 
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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.  
 
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,