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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. _ 672

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille F. Abueg-Zaldivar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally filed during the Sixteenth Congress as House Bill
(H.B.) No. 6075, approved on Third Reading, and consequently transmitted to the
Senate of the Philippines on September 16, 2015. During the Seventeenth Congress,
Deputy Speaker Frederick F. Abueg re-filed it as H.B. No. 5793. Again, the House of
Representatives approved it on Third Reading, while the Senate received the same on
August 14, 2017.

The proposed bill seeks to declare Kapangyan Falls in the municipality of
Bataraza, province of Palawan, as a Tourist Destination.

Kapangyan Falls is accessible by foot from the National Highway traversing
Barangay Malihud to Barangay Rio Tuba, both in the municipality of Bataraza. It can
be reached by trekking the six (6)-kilometer trail of mountain slopes and ravines
surrounded by greenery and forest trees. The way to the falls is slippery to rugged
The area around the falls is slippery which is caused by showers of water, making the
soil soft and mushy. The stones nearby are also slippery and covered by moss. The
main falls is around twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) meters high with moderate
volume of water displacement. Its main pool is around two (2) to four (4) meters deep.

According to ancestral folklore, a beautiful maiden named Pangyan, daughter
of a renowned Panglima, the ruler of indigenous peoples groups of the area,
frequented the place and took her bath in the crystal clear pools at the base of the falls,
attended by a retinue of maidens-in-waiting. When she died, the place was named in
her honor, and until today the place is still known as Kapangyan and believed to be
enchanted, The locals used to bring their family members for a soothing bath for a
quick recovery. Those who have had a chance to bathe under the falls attest to the
medical and curing effects of the cool refreshing waters of Kapangyan Falls.

Professional photographers and amateur enthusiasts alike have taken to visiting
Kapangyan Falls to capture its enchanting beauty. On the bank of the falls lie flattened
smooth rocks with noticeable metamorphic changes or multi-colored layers indicating


the long years of existence of these rock formations. These further give emphasis to
the beauty of the falls” surrounding area.

With Kapangyan Falls being declared as a tourist destination and being covered
by programs and projects of the Department of Tourism, it is certain that this
wonderful gift of nature will realize improvement and be a potential source of income
for its local government and the people residing within the area

In view of the policy of the State to promote a tourism industry that is
ecologically sustainable, responsible, participative, culturally sensitive, economically
viable, and ethically and socially equitable for local communities, as declared in
Republic Act 9593, otherwise known as “The Tourism Act of 2009,” the approval of
this bill is earnestly recommended

CYRILLE F\ABUEG-ZALDIVAR
Representative, 2" District of Palawan


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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILLNO._®72

Introduced by Hoi

yrille F. Abueg-Zal

AN ACT
DECLARING KAPANGYAN FALLS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
BATARAZA, PROVINCE OF PALAWAN AS TOURIST DESTINATION,
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. The Kapangyan Falls is hereby declared tourist destination.
As such, it shall be accorded with priority development by the Department of
Tourism (DOT) and shall be subject to the rules and regulations governing the
development of tourist destination.

SEC. 2. The Department of Tourism, in accordance with the local
government units and other concemed agencies of the government shall, within
cone (1) year after the approval of this Act, prepare a development plan involving
the construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and
infrastructure as shall enhance tourism in the area; Provided, That said
development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of the natural

resources of the area.


SEC. 3. The Department of Tourism shall take immediate steps in
implementing the tourism development plan that will suit the natural
characteristic of Kapangyan Falls and shall incorporate the same in its overall
development plans and programs for national implementation.

SEC. 4. It shall also be the responsibility of the DOT to promote
Kapangyan Falls as tourism area in all its national, regional and local promotion
programs.

SEC. 5.The Secretary of Tourism shall issue such rules and regulations
as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

SEC. 6.The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter.

SEC. 7. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive orders or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended accordingly.

SEC. 8.This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in
the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,