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HB 4298

Siquijor solon bats for HB 4298

2008/09/09

PIA Press Release

by Rizalie A. Calibo

Siquijor Congressman Orlando B. Fua has been lobbying in both houses of Congress for the approval of House Bill No. 4298, "An Act Declaring the Mt. Bandilaan Range in the Province of Siquijor as a Protected Landscape, Providing for its Management and for Other purposes." The House of Representatives recently approved on second reading HB 4298.

According to Siquijor Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Oscar M. Magallones, the passage of the bill will help Siquijor province prosper as one of the country's eco-tourism destination while maintaining the balance of the environment.

He said that as soon as the bill gets final approval, there will be appropriation or regular budget for development that can also generate income.

Magallones said eco-tourism projects for the area has already been lined up with appropriate funding of P5M each from both the office of the provincial governor and the Congressman for the establishment of Mt. Bandilaan Mountain Resort and Tourism Project.

He said that while any environmental endeavors should be in accordance with the proposed management zoning, the proposed mountain resort can be placed under recreational area/zone in under the Special agreement on Protected Area (SAPA). A Memorandum of Agreement has been readied but implementation of such awaits Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

House Bill 4298 is co-authored by Congressmen Ignacio T. Arroyo, Matias Defensor Jr., Florencio T. Miraflores, Teodulo M. Coquilla, Edcel C. Lagman,, Candido P. Pancrudo Jr., Philip A. Pichay, Isidro T. Ungab, Jose S. Aquino II and Roilo S. Golez.

The government gives special focus on environmental protection which has been touted as the "catalyst" to spur the country's economic take-off.