1 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____________ 
Introduced by Representatives ALFEL M. BASCUG and EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA 
AN ACT DECLARING THE LAKE HIMBANG LOCATED IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF TALACOGON, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL 
SUR, AN ECOTOURISM SITE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Explanatory Note 
This bill seeks to declare Lake Himbang as an ecotourism site in the 
Municipality of Talacogon, Province of Agusan del Sur.  
Agusan del Sur is a must-see biodiversity hotspot and a promising slice of 
paradise found in the northeastern part of Mindanao. It is a land of hundreds of 
lakes and rivers, many of which are fishing enclaves, as well as plains, undulating 
terrain, and mountain ranges with abundant mineral deposits. This paradise is 
home to the famous Agusan Marsh, which is known for being the largest 
marshland in the Philippines. 
July 1, 2022
8:47 am
761


2 
Lake Himbang, located in the Municipality of Talacogon, is one of Agusan 
del Sur's awe-inspiring and breathtaking sceneries. It is just over an hour's drive 
from the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway. The lake is an alternative 
destination to Agusan Marsh. One can be truly enthralled by its beauty by taking 
an easy tour by pump boats or a dug-out canoe around the lakeside scenery and 
the Manobo floating huts. 
This hidden gem has been a tourist attraction for locals but has never been 
publicly exposed to other tourists in the Philippines or the world. Due to a lack of 
necessary development and promotion, the tourism potential of the place has been 
curtailed. Thus, for this spot to be developed and become a fully grown tourist 
destination, it should be declared as an ecotourism site. The development of Lake 
Himbang into an ecotourism site will not just enhance its aesthetic value but also 
increase local government revenue and create employment opportunities for the 
people of Agusan del Sur. 
Notably, this measure has been previously filed in the 18th Congress. The 
House of Representatives approved it on 3rd Reading and the bill had been duly 
transmitted to the Senate.  
The immediate passage of this bill is hereby earnestly sought. 
              ALFEL M. BASCUG 
EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA 
 1ST District, Agusan del Sur 
2nd District, Agusan del Sur 


3 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____________ 
Introduced by Representatives ALFEL M. BASCUG and EDDIEBONG G. PLAZA 
AN ACT DECLARING THE LAKE HIMBANG LOCATED IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF TALACOGON, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL 
SUR, AN ECOTOURISM SITE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  The Lake Himbang located in the Municipality of 
Talacogon, Province of Agusan del Sur, is hereby declared an ecotourism 
site. As such, its development  shall  be prioritized by the Department of 
Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the development 
of ecotourism sites. 
SECTION 2.   The technical description of the area to be declared as 
ecotourism site is as follows:  
761


4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SECTION 3.   Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT 
shall, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources and concerned local government units (LGUs) and agencies of the 
government, prepare a tourism development plan that shall include the 
construction, installation and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure and 
LAKE HIMBANG TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION 
Projection : 
Universal Tansverse Mercator Zone 51 (N) 
Datum :  
World Geodetic 1984 (WGS84) 
 
 
 
corner 
easting 
northing 
1 
804671 
937414 
2 
804717 
937418 
3 
804769 
937402 
4 
804816 
937406 
5 
804833 
937436 
6 
804862 
937419 
7 
804881 
937383 
8 
804915 
937357 
9 
804964 
937319 
10 
805044 
937264 
11 
805114 
937249 
12 
805201 
937230 
13 
805301 
937212 
14 
805330 
937174 
15 
805270 
937051 
16 
805222 
936996 
17 
805177 
936953 
18 
805109 
936928 
19 
805062 
936952 
20 
805017 
936976 
21 
804979 
936997 
22 
804928 
937015 
23 
804889 
937045 
24 
804876 
937092 
25 
804887 
937129 
26 
804948 
937102 
27 
804981 
937140 
28 
804974 
937168 
29 
804980 
937184 
30 
804975 
937198 
31 
804918 
937231 
32 
804862 
937237 
33 
804799 
937249 
34 
804772 
937302 
35 
804752 
937361 
36 
804713 
937394 
37 
804663 
937393 


5 
 
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. 
 
SECTION 4.  The DOT and its concerned attached agencies shall take 
immediate steps to implement the development plan with due consideration to 
the natural characteristics of Lake Himbang, and shall incorporate the same 
in its tourism development program for the calendar year immediately 
succeeding the approval of this Act. It shall also include the Lake Himbang in 
all its national, regional and local promotion programs. 
 
SECTION 5.  The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the 
Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, and shall augment 
such allocation with internally generated funds of the Department. 
 
SECTION 6.  Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, 
the DOT shall, in consultation with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise 
Zone Authority and concerned LGUs and government agencies, promulgate 
the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7.  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. 
 
SECTION 8. 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. 
 
SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,