Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES — |
Quezon City, Metro Manila \

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5128

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON, RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This legislative proposal sceks to redefine the geographical jurisdiction of the
First Public Works District or the Bohol First District Engineering Office (Bohol 1
DEO). The 7.2-magnitude carthquake that hit Bohol province last October 15, 2013,
would go down in history as one of the country's most destructive and deadliest
catastrophe, claiming the lives of over 200 Boholanos and damaging more than
73,000 structures.

Loon, a second-income class municipality in Bohol with a population of more
than 40,000, was among the hardest hit towns in the province. About a third of all
casualties occurred in this town, and its heritage sites and century-old churches
completely crumbled to the ground including the Church of Our Lady of Light, the
beautiful Loon Church,

Said catastrophe, however, left not only a landscape of collapsed structures,
but also remarkable ground surface changes, one of which is the increased elevation
of land called an “upthrust” along the shorelines of Maribojoe and Loon, Bohol.
According to reports by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), a reverse fault mechanism
with a NW-SE compressive axis was inferred from seismic wave analyses, thus
vertical ground movements associated with the reverse motion must have been
involved in the ground surface changes.

Geologists call the Loon phenomenon as uplift-ment or vertical displacement
of land in response to the tectonic activity brought by the aftermath of the
earthquake. The provincial government now includes these yeo-science spots as part
of its tourist attractions, turning the damaged sites into places for geological study
and for tourism, in order to attract more tourists both here and abroad.

By virtue of its exceptional characteristics, scientific importance, uniques
relevance to the Philippine history, importance in the tourism industry as a tourist
spot and high scenic value, this bill secks to declare the upthrust surface of Loon as a
National Geological Monument.



Further, with the adoption of a tourism economic zone in the municipality of
Loon which is known as the emerging giant of Bohol’s eco-cultural tourism industry,
the whole of the nation stands to benefit from the recognition of this landmark as one
of the country’s geological monument, expecting an increase in tourist activity,

In view of th

oregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is sought.

RE)



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 5128

Introduced by HON. RENE L. RELAMPAGOS,
First District, Bohol

“AN ACT DECLARING THE UPTHRUST IN LOON, BOHOL AS A
NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL MONUMENT, PROVIDING FOR ITS.
DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - An Act Declaring Loon Upthrust as a National
Geological Monument of the Philippines.

SECTION 2. National Patrimony and Geological Monument. ~ The upthrust
located along the shorelines of Barangays Guiwanon and Punta Cruz in the
Municipality of Maribojoc covering 40.35 hectares and in Barangays Song-on,
‘Tontonan, Cuasi, Tangnan, Pig-ot, Basdacu, Lintuan, Napo, Basac and Moalong in
the Municipality of Loon covering 478.04 hectares, is hereby declared as a National
Geological Monument.

SECTION 3. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to protect and preserve the upthrust in the municipality of Loon, brought about
by the 7.2-maginitude earthquake that hit the province of Bohol on October 15, 2013.

SECTION 4. Development Plan. — As a National Geological Monument, the
Loon Upthrust shall be accorded priority development, promotion, protection and
preservation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and
the Department of Tourism (DOT). Said agencies, in coordination with the local
government unit concerned, shall, within one (1) year after the approval of this Act,
prepare a development plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance
of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure which shall enhance tourism in the
area;

Provided, that the said development plan shall ensure the preservation and
conservation of the natural beauty and indigenous nature of the area;


The Department of Tourism shall promote the Loon Upthrust in all its
national, regional and local promotion programs.

‘The DOT shall also include in the Department's program the implementation
of this Act, the funding of which shall be charged against the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. Prohibited Acts. -

(a) Any form of destruction or defacement of the Loon Upthrust;

(b) Hauling of limestone, rock, soil and road materials for whatever
purpose;

(©) Construction, in any form, of any structure in violation or not included
in the development plan under Section 4.

(4) Any similar acts in violation of the law and regulations on upthrust.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of the
Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Tourism and the local
government of Loon, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Act
within 60 days from its enactment into law.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. ~ if any part or section of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the other parts or section
of this Act,

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decree, executive
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with any provision of this Act shall be
deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two (2) newspaper of general circulation or official gazette.

Approved,