Republic of the Philippines ate
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
Quezon City, Metro Manila \ ie

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

671
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille F. Abueg-Zaldivar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Originally filed during the Sixteenth Congress as House Bill (H.B.) No. 6074,
this bill was approved by the House of Representatives on Third (3) Reading and
eventually transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines on September 16, 2015. Former
Deputy Speaker Frederick F. Abueg re-filed it during the Seventeenth Congress as
HB. No. 5794, and the House again approved it on third reading on August 9, 2017,
while the Senate received it on August 14, 2017.

The proposed bill seeks to declare Gangub Cave in Barangay Sandoval,
Municipality of Bataraza, Province of Palawan, as a Tourist Destination. Gangub Cave
is located approximately twenty (20) kilometers from Bataraza’s town center,
accessible by bus or jeep, and by foot from the Provincial Road traversing Barangay
Sandoval to Barangay Iwahig in approximately fifteen (15) minutes at a slow pace.

The cave resembles a ten-storey building with a towering height of more or less
one hundred (100) feet from the base. Its main entrance has an elevation of at least
thirty-nine (39) feet, which can be reached only by climbing the concrete steps toward
the opening. Its fagade is awe-inspiring, as it resembles that of a stately cathedral in
the city. As one enters, enticing sounds emanating from the cave’s multi-colored dome
and created by the millions of small bats inhabiting Gangub Cave, welcome the
visitor. The cave’s main chamber is about thirty (30) meters and can be likened to the
Pefiablanca Cave of Cagayan and the Bathala Cave of Marinduque. The lower deck
just beneath the cave’s multi-colored dome can be utilized as an assembly hall that can
accommodate approximately two hundred (200) people at a time. The upper deck,
which is gloomy due to its distance from the entrance, may be utilized for taking
pictures because of the picturesque spots found within the deck. The outermost deck
located at the cave’s southern portion appears to have been naturally designed as the
vista lodge of the cave, where one can have a full view of the area down below and as
far as the southern portion of the famous Mount Bolanjao. Here, visitors can take their
lunch for it is well ventilated by the big opening at the southern portion. One can also
rest by reclining upon the smooth rocks within the deck.


The numerous species of bats found in Gangub Cave also provide a good
supply of guano, a high-value fertilizer. Unfortunately, it has been reported that at
some point, residents and visitors would sneak in the cave and excavate the guano.

According to ancestral folklore, cavemen inhabited this cave in the early part of
the fifteenth (15) century. Gangub Cave is also known as “Panuyon Cave” from the
Pala’wan word “panoy” that means “bats” or “paniki” in Filipino.

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.
anual ZALDIVAR

Representative, 2" District of Palawan



Rw N

Camu au

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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 671

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille F. Abueg-Zal

ANACT
DECLARING GANGUB CAVE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BATARAZ.
PROVINCE OF PALAWAN, AS A 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. Gangub Cave is hereby a 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 a tourist destination.

SEC. 2. The Department of Tourism, in accordance with the local
government units and other concerned agencies of the government shall, within
one (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 Gangub Cave and shall incorporate the same in its overall

development plans and programs for national implementation.


SEC. 4, It shall be the responsibility of the DOT to promote Gangub
Cave as a 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,