RECEIVED

DATE: y 2016

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

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1090 BILLS AND inh ¥ S790"

House Bill No.

“Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES 8. LANETE, M.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Unknown to many but are exponentially gaining attention, the Island of Nagarao and its
surrounding islands are full of tourist and economic potential, Situated at the developing
municipality of Placer in the Province of Masbate, the Island of Nagarao and its surrounding
islands are naturally gifted with pristine white sand beaches, virgin coral ree(S filled with
colorful fauna and faura, wide-ranging sand bars, and most of all, extremely warm-
welcoming people.

Despite these natural treasures, the Island of Nagarao and its surrounding istands remain
undiscovered and undeveloped. ‘The lack of progress in the area can be traced {0 non-existent
attention coming from the national government, Worse, the area has and continues to fall
prey (0 unscrupulous entities engaged in illegal fishing thereby causing massive and
irreversible destruction to the area.

Considering that it is a policy of the State to undertake the sustainable development of the
environment simultaneously with the right of the people to a healthy and balanced ecology, it
is imperative that the national government provide the needed care and attention to the Island
of Nagarao and its surrounding islands. In order to achieve these goals, the Island of Nagarao
and ils surrounding islands should be declared as an ecotourism zone wherein an ecotourism
council will be established to steer the area to fame and progress while maintaining the
sanctity of its natural resources. Hence, the passage of this bill is urgently sought

SCOTT DAVIES S. LANETE, M.D.
epresentative
‘Third District, Province of Masbate

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,_ 1030

Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES S. LANETE, M.D.

AN ACY DECLARING THE ISLAND OF NAGARAO AND ITS SURROUNDING
LANDS OF NABOCTOT AND GUIN-AWAYAN IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
ACER, PROVINCE OF MASBATE, AN ECOTOURISM ZONE, ESTABLISHING
1E PLACER ECOTOURISM DEVEOPMENT COUNCIL, AND APPROPRIATING

FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Iv is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure the right of the people to a
balanced and healthful ecology through the promotion of activities designed for
environmental protection and conservation.

SECTION 2. The Island of Nagarao and its surrounding islands of Naboctot and Guin-
awayan located in the Municipality of Placer, Province of Masbate are hereby declared an
ecotourism zone,

SECTION 3. There shall be created the Placer Ecotourism Development Council, hereinafter
ferred to as the Council, to be composed of the following:

a) ‘The Mayor of the Municipality of Placer, as Chairperson:

b) A member of an accredited non-government organization or people's organization of
the Municipality engaged in ecotourism, as Co-Chairperson:

©) A representative from the Department of Tourism (DOT) or the Provineial Tourism
Office

d) A representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR);

e) A member of a recognized indigenous people’s federation:

1) A member of a reputable travel organization; and

g) A member of the academe

Placer’s local legislative body shall appoint the members of the Council for a term of five
(5) years, renewable for one term.

The DOT and the DENR shall assist the Council in its task of pursuing the objectives
of this Act.


SECTION 4. The Council shall have the following functions and responsibilities

a

b.

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Adopt and update an Ecotourism Master plan and supervise the implementation of the
corresponding programs and activities therein:

Assess and evaluate the potential impact of development to the environmental safety
and well-being of the ecotourism zone:

Conduct consultations with local residents who are aflected by ecotourism
development to assimilate their cultural values and beliefs in the master plan and
other programs;

Provide technical and financial assistance to communities in the ecotousism zone:
Formulate rules and regulations which shall prohibit illegal fishing and related
activities: and

Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this
Act

TION 5. To carry out the purposes of the Act, there shall be created a special fund, called
acer Ecotourism Fund, which shall be sourced from at least 40% of the environmental
which shall be collected by the Council from all visiting tourists.

TION 6. If any part or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other
sions, which are not effected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect

SECTION 7. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and other
issuances or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly

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TION 8. This Act shall take effect fifleen (15) days after its publication in the Official
ie or in a newspaper of general circulation,

Approved.