Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“1

o4
House Bill No, L917

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES
THEREBY CREATING A NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to recognize, protect and promote the Philippines’ most outstanding
roads which possess one of six core intrinsic qualities - scenic, historic, cultural, natural,
recreational, and archaeological - features which contribute to the character of the
roadway and its communities. The National Scenic Byways designation aims to award
routes that show the regional characteristics of the nation’s culture, history and
landscape.

National Scenic Byways represent the best of all scenic byways and provide
Visitors with a unique travel experience since they are considered tourist attractions in
their own right. Under this measure, if a route is designated as such, it does not only
gain an expected boost in tourism, but also becomes eligible for appropriations for
improvements such as interpretive centers, view decks, and rest areas. Moreover, local
residents will be encouraged to work closely with the Government and civic
organizations to preserve and promote the unique local beauty and distinctive character
of their own community.

Recognition of scenic byways focuses not only on the promotion of roads, but
also helps balance economic development and resource conservation in the localities
In the United States of America, a strong scenic byways program produced strong

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community support and even encouraged the citizens to develop a corridor
management plan that describes in detail the preservation, marketing, and improvement
strategies for the byway.

In view of the importance of this proposed measure, its expeditious approval is
earnestly urged.

DIOSDADO PAGAL ARROYO 1A MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur econd District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES THEREBY
CREATING A NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “National Scenic Byways
Program Act of 2013.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following words
and phrases shall be construed to mean as follows

(a) Grants - a non-repayable, non-bearing assistance or aid,
given either through money or in kind, to encourage development or
growth in an area

(b) Byway — a minor or secondary road; a road other than the
main road

(©) __ National Scenic Byway — a road that is recognized for its
archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic
qualities.


SECTION 3. Designation of Roads. -

(1) In general. — The Secretary of Department of Tourism (DOT) shall carry
out a national scenic byways program that recognizes roads having outstanding scenic,
historic, cultural, natural, recreational, and archaeological qualities by designating the
roads as “National Scenic Byways’.

(2) Criteria. - The DOT Secretary shall designate roads to be recognized
under the national scenic byways program in accordance with the criteria developed by
the department.

(3) Nomination. - To be considered for a designation, a road must be
nominated by a national government agency, local government unit (LGU), or a civic
organization situated in the locality of the road to be nominated.

(4) _ Reciprocal notification. — National Government agencies, LGUs, and civic
organizations shalll notify each other regarding nominations made under this subsection
for roads that:

(a) are within the jurisdictional boundary of the National
Government agencies, LGUs, and civic organizations; or

(b) directly connect to roads for which the National Government
agencies, LGUs, and civic organizations is responsible.

SECTION 4. Grants and Technical Assistance. -

(1) In general. - The DOT Secretary shall make grants and provide technical
assistance to National government agencies, LGUs, civic organizations to:

(a) implement projects on highways designated as National
Scenic Byways.

(b) plan, design, and develop a National Government agency,
LGU or civic organization scenic byway program.

(2) Priorities. — In making grants, the DOT Secretary shall give priority to:

(a) _ each eligible project that is associated with a highway that
has been designated as a National Scenic Byway and that is consistent
with the corridor management plan for the byway;

(b) each eligible project along a National Government agency,
LGU or civic organization scenic byway that is consistent with the corridor
management plan for the byway, or is intended to foster the development


of such a plan, and is carried out to make the byway eligible for
designation as a National Scenic Byway; and

(c) _ each eligible project that is associated with the development
of a National Government agency, LGU or civic organization scenic byway
program.

SECTION 5. Establishment of Philippines’ Byways Resource Center. -

(1) In general. - The DOT Secretary shall allocate funds made available to
carry out the establishment of the Philippines’ Byways Resource Center (PBRC). The
DOT shall oversee and manage the resources of the center.

(2) Technical Support and Education. -

(a) _ Use of Funds. — The Center shall use funds allocated to the
Center under this section to continue to provide technical support and
conduct educational activities for the national scenic byways program

(b) Eligible Activities. — Technical support and educational activities
carried out under this sub-section shall provide local officials and
organizations associated with National Scenic Byways, with proactive,
technical, and on-site customized assistance, including training,
communications (including a public awareness series), publications,
conferences, on-site meetings, and other assistance considered
appropriate to develop and sustain such byways and roads.

SECTION 6. Eligible Projects. — The following are projects that are eligible for
Government assistance under this section:

(a) _ An activity related to the planning, design, or development of
a National Government agency, LGU or civic organization scenic byway
program.

(b) Development and implementation of a corridor management
plan to maintain the scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, natural, and
archaeological characteristics of a byway corridor while providing for
accommodation of increased tourism and development of related
amenities.

(c) Safety improvements to a National Government scenic
byway, LGU scenic byway or National Scenic Byway, to the extent that the
improvements are necessary to accommodate increased traffic and
changes in the types of vehicles using the highway as a result of the
designation as a Government scenic byway, civic organization scenic
byway or National Scenic Byway.


(d) Construction along a scenic byway of a facility for
pedestrians and bicyclists, rest area, turnout, highway shoulder
improvement, overlook, or interpretive facility.

(e) An improvement to a scenic byway that will enhance access
to an area for the purpose of recreation, including water-related recreation

(f) Protection of scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, natural,
and archaeological resources in an area adjacent to a scenic byway.

(9) Development and provision of tourist information to the
public, including interpretive information about a scenic byway, and

(h) Development and implementation of a scenic byway
marketing program.

SECTION 7. Limitation of Grants. - The DOT Secretary shall not make a grant
under this section for any project that would not protect the scenic, historical,
recreational, cultural, natural, and archaeological integrity of a highway and adjacent
areas.

SECTION 8. Savings Clause. - The DOT Secretary shall not withhold any grant or
impose any requirement on a National Government, LGU or civic organization as a
condition of providing a grant or technical assistance for any scenic byway unless the
requirement is consistent with the authority provided in this Act.

SECTION 9. Regulation. - The DOT Secretary, in consultation with all concerned
stakeholders shall issue the necessary rules and regulations of this Act within ninety
(90) days after the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 10. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be provided out of the savings from the appropriations of the DOT for the
current year. Thereafter, the sum necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
appropriated in the annual appropriations of the DOT.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon
its publication in at least two (2) general newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,