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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
_______________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative ED CHRISTOPHER S. GO 
______________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The municipalities of San Mariano and Palanan, Province of Isabela, host an 
array of high-potential ecotourism attractions on either side of the majestic Sierra 
Madre Mountains, within a single day’s drive from Metro Manila.  
The Municipality of San Mariano is home to a pristine system of virgin waterfalls, 
forest areas for hiking, swimming, camping and other sports, and even a crocodile 
conservation sanctuary. The San Mariano Rearing Station in Barangay Minanga and 
the Philippine Crocodile Conservation Center at the ISU-San Mariano Campus are 
jump-off points to a distinctive wildlife and nature thrill that offers total eco-tourism 
experience. The amazing circuit of pristine waterfalls notably, the Amisan Falls in 
Barangay Del Pilar, Minangaoan Falls, Disusuan Falls and Cadsalan Falls showcases 
an array of well-preserved attractions teeming with rare flora and fauna. Barangay 
Marannao has a small water impounding area perfect for water sports and lake 
cruising.      
      Meanwhile, the Pacific Ocean-facing Municipality of Palanan is home to one of the 
longest and widest stretches of white sand beach found in Luzon. Due to poor 
infrastructure, the rest of the nation is deprived of access to its enchanting Blue Lagoon 
and pristine white beaches, notably Dicotcotan and Didagungan. The Kanasanggyan 
Creek and Cave, Digoyo Lake and Disadsad Falls accent the surrounding rainforests 
and the protected marine resources with a magical and unforgettable charm. For 
extreme adventure with a historical twist, the Aguinaldo Trail which traverses San 
Mariano and Palanan could be developed as a trail sports route which also 
commemorates a significant moment in Philippine history.  
     Despite their great potential, however, these tourism attractions are severely 
underdeveloped due to lack of attention and low levels of investment from the national 
government and private stakeholders. While it is true that more infrastructure projects 
have been recently allocated to improve access to Palanan, it is still a paltry sum of the 
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needed investment to transform the San Mariano-Palanan zone into a vaunted self-
sustaining ecotourism corridor. This is also a decisive step towards the actual and 
inevitable future of the District. Just as we are extending resources to tap the 
ecotourism potentials of our rainforests and hidden shores, the cultivation of the San 
Mariano-Palanan ecotourism corridor has found its due time.  
This legislation seeks to break this cycle of inattention and outright neglect by declaring 
the municipalities of San Mariano and Palanan, respectively, as a single unified 
Ecotourism Corridor using the nomenclature of existing tourism laws and regulations. 
Our hope is that the clear mandate of this bill, if passed into law, will push the national 
government to prioritize the development of much-needed tourism infrastructure in 
these areas. This is timelier than ever considering the Department of Tourism’s re-
orientation towards domestic tourism promotion in the face of the COVID-19 
pandemic. 
It cannot be overemphasized that the development of San Mariano and Palanan as an 
ecotourism corridor will serve to jumpstart the local economy, generate jobs, and 
provide livelihood to families who are still suffering under the pandemic. As such, I 
respectfully solicit your support for the swift passage of this legislation. 
The bill in its present form was approved by the House of Representatives on third and 
final reading as House Bill No. 9552 on August 3, 2021 during the 18th Congress of the 
Philippines. 
     ED CHRISTOPHER S. GO 
    Representative 
2nd District of Isabela 


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
_______________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative ED CHRISTOPHER S. GO 
_______________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT DECLARING THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
SAN MARIANO AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF PALANAN, PROVINCE OF ISABELA, 
AS ECOTOURISM ZONES, TO BE JOINTLY KNOWN AS THE SAN MARIANO-
PALANAN ECOTOURISM CORRIDOR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. The Municipality of San Mariano and the Municipality of Palanan 
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in the Province of Isabela are hereby declared as ecotourism zones, to be jointly known 
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as the San Mariano-Palanan Ecotourism Corridor. As such, the development of the 
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San Mariano-Palanan Ecotourism Corridor shall be prioritized by the Department of 
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Tourism (DOT) and its concerned attached agencies, subject to the rules and 
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regulations governing the development of ecotourism zones. 
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SEC. 2. Within one (1) year from the approval of this Act, the DOT shall, in 
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coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the 
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Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Tourism Infrastructure and 
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Enterprise Zone Authority (TlEZA) and concerned local government units (LGUs) and 
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agencies of the government, prepare a comprehensive tourism development plan for 
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the San Mariano-Palanan Ecotourism Corridor. The development plan shall include 
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the identification, validation, construction, installation and maintenance of such 
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appropriate facilities and infrastructure to enhance ecotourism in the areas: Provided. 
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That said development plan shall ensure the preservation of the cultural heritage of 
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the areas and the conservation of its biophysical assets, and incorporate strategies and 
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programs to promote sustainable economic opportunities for the local communities. 
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The DOT, DPWH and TIEZA shall prioritize the construction and completion of the San 
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Mariano-Palanan Road in order to ensure the accessibility of tourists. 
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SEC. 3. The DOT shall take immediate steps to implement the development plan 
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and shall incorporate the same in its tourism development program for the calendar 
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year immediately succeeding the approval of this Act. 
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SEC. 4. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Department's program the 
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implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual 
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General Appropriations Act, and shall augment such allocation with internally 
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generated funds of the Department. 
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SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOT shall, in 
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consultation with the concerned LGUs and agencies of the government, promulgate the 
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necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
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the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 7. All laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, proclamations, presidential 
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decrees and other issuances inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are 
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hereby deemed repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
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Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,