Falls in Las Navas in Northern Samar
THE House of Representatives (HRep), under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, on Wednesday approved on third and final reading bills declaring 10 places in the country as ecotourism sites and tourist destinations.
The HRep approved House Bills (HBs) 11105, 11107 and 11126 declaring the immediate environs of the Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Church, as well as the Batag Lighthouse and Onay Beach, all located in Laoang, Northern Samar province, as tourism destinations.
The HRep also sought to make Pinipisakan Falls in Las Navas, also in Northern Samar, as a tourism destination through HB 11106.
Meanwhile, the approved HB 10637 sought to have Binadlan Falls in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental declared as an ecotourism site; HB 11109 to have the Siniguelasan Mangroves Park in Bacoor, Cavite declared as an ecotourism zone; and HB 11128 to declare Barangay Rubas in Leyte as an ecotourism destination.
Other tourism-related measures approved on final reading were HBs 11110 and 11129 which would declare as tourism zones Sitio Timoga in Iligan, Lanao del Norte, and the Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan, respectively.
Under the said HBs, the local government which has jurisdiction over these sites shall prepare tourism development plans, in coordination with the Departments of Tourism (DOT, and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other concerned agencies to enhance tourism in these areas.
The HRep also approved HB 11125, seeking to revise the technical descriptions of foreshore land areas within the Balanga Wetland and Nature Park (BWNP) Ecotourism Zone in Balanga, Bataan.
It also approved HB 11039 seeking to strengthen the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) so that the said office can meet the evolving demands of the government corporate sector.
HB 11060, which seeks to simplify the system of legitimes and intestate succession, and promote family harmony, prevent stagnation of property and spur economic growth, also passed through the HRep’s third and final reading.
The HRep also ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of both Houses on HB 10800 or the fiscal year 2025 General Appropriations Bill.
Deputy Speaker Antonio “Tonypet” Albano presided over Wednesday’s plenary session.
