Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19th CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea is a 37.2-hectare landmass 
that lies some 480 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City. 
Surrounded by shallow coral ranges, Pag-asa has been occupied by 
the Philippines since 1970. 
Pag-asa is the largest landform of the Kalayaan Island Group, which 
also includes the islets of Likas, Parola, Lawak, Kota, Patag and 
Panata, and Balagtas Reef, Ayungin Shoal and Rizal Shoal. 
The Kalayaan Island Group is at the northeastern section of the 
disputed Spratly Archipelago. 
On June 11, 1978, then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued 
Presidential Decree No. 1596, which created the Municipality of 
Kalayaan over the Kalayaan Island Group under the Province of 
Palawan. 
The Kalayaan municipal government is based in Pag-asa, which is 
also the town’s lone barangay. 
A sixth-class municipality, Kalayaan is the least populated town in 
the Philippines, with only 193 residents who all live on Pag-asa, 
according to the 2020 census. 
This bill seeks to declare Pag-asa Island a recreational fishing 
tourism site for the purpose of: 
•
Developing the island into a thriving community by attracting
both foreign and local tourists, particularly visitors inclined to engage
in recreational fishing, including catch-and-release fishing;
November 21, 2022
1:53 pm
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• 
Providing the Municipality of Kalayaan, which currently has 
little to no income, a new recurring revenue stream from tourism-
related activities; and 
• 
Affording small fisherfolk supplemental sources of income from 
tourism-related activities, such as leasing their boats and services to 
tourists, including visitors that may wish to fish in and around the 
island for leisure, exercise or competition. 
The ultimate purpose of this bill is to pave the way for the 
development of Pag-asa, considering that other countries claiming all 
or parts of the Spratly Archipelago are also increasing their presence 
on the islands, reefs and shoals that they occupy there. 
The approval of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
 
JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19th CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE PAG-ASA ISLAND IN THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA  
A RECREATIONAL FISHING TOURISM SITE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Republic of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1. The Pag-asa Island located in Barangay Pag-asa, Municipality of 
Kalayaan, Province of Palawan, is hereby declared a recreational fishing tourism 
site. As such, the island’s development shall be prioritized and supported by the 
Department of Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the 
development of tourism sites. 
Sec. 2. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the municipal 
government of Kalayaan and the provincial government of Palawan shall, in 
coordination with the DOT, Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
and concerned agencies of the government, prepare a tourism development plan 
that shall include the construction, installation and maintenance of such 
appropriate infrastructure and facilities to enhance tourism in the area: 
Provided, That said development plan shall ensure the preservation and 
conservation of the natural beauty and resources of the area: Provided further, 
That the implementation of the tourism development plan shall be included in 
the budget of the DOT. 
Sec. 3. The DOT shall assist the municipal government of Kalayaan and the 
provincial government of Palawan in the implementation of the tourism 
development plan by providing technical assistance in tourism capacity building. 
It shall also include the Pag-asa Island in tourism promotion programs. 
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Sec. 4. The funding for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
annual budget of the DOT.  
 
Sec. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the municipal 
government of Kalayaan and the provincial government of Palawan shall, in 
consultation with the DOT and concerned agencies of the government, 
promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
 
Sec. 6. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
Sec. 7. All laws, rules, regulations, presidential decrees, and other issuances 
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed 
or amended accordingly. 
 
Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,