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BillHBN-856520th Congress

Passig Islet (Davao Del Sur) an Ecotourism Site

In committee Filed May 6, 2026
◷ Where it standsIn Committee
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on May 6, 2026, and referred to the Committees on Tourism, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, and Finance; it has been pending in committee since May 19, 2026.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

The bill aims to boost local tourism and economic development while ensuring environmental conservation.

TouristsLocal governmentCommunity membersEnvironmental groups
Timeliness
Timely

The bill addresses the need for sustainable tourism development in the area.

Affects you ifTourism developersLocal businessesResidents of Sta. CruzEnvironmental advocates
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
2.3/ 10
Long title

Passig Islet (Davao Del Sur) an Ecotourism Site

Plain-language summary
✦AI Summary

This bill declares Passig Islet in Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, as an ecotourism site, aiming to enhance tourism while preserving the area's natural beauty.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresThe Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz must prepare a tourism development plan within one year after the Act's approval.
RequiresThe Department of Tourism (DOT) must assist in implementing the tourism development plan and include Passig Islet in its promotion programs.
FundsThe funding for the implementation shall be included in the annual budget of the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz.
FundsThe DOT may augment the budget with internally generated funds.
DeadlineOne year after approval for the tourism development plan
DeadlineSixty days after effectivity for promulgating rules and regulations
DeadlineFifteen days after publication for the Act to take effect
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

Passig Islet is not designated as an ecotourism site.

This bill

Passig Islet is declared an ecotourism site, prioritizing its development.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

Passig Islet is declared an ecotourism site under this bill, which prioritizes its development and conservation.

Source · full text
Issue areas
HealthLocal GovernmentSocial WelfareLocal GovernmentTourism DevelopmentEcotourismDavao del SurEnvironmental conservation

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
May 6, 2026Senate
Introduced by Representatives JOHN TRACY F. CAGAS, ELEANDRO JESUS F. MADRONA, JUNARD "AHONG" Q. CHAN, ROSALIE ANG SALVAME, ROMMEL RICO T. ANGARA, JOSE C. ALVAREZ, et. al.;
May 6, 2026Senate
Approved on Third Reading by the House of Representatives on May 5, 2026;
May 6, 2026Senate
Sent to the Senate requesting for concurrence;
May 19, 2026Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committees on TOURISM; ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE CHANGE and FINANCE;
✦ AI insight

Stalled: has sat in committee for over four months with no recorded action since May 19, 2026, when it was first read and referred to committees.

Tap a term to decode it
Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
HBN-8565 — verbatim textAs filed

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H. No, 8565 BY REPRESENTATIVES CAGAS, MADRONA, CHAN (J.), SALVAME, ANGARA, ALVAREZ (J.), KHO (E.), TUAN, MIRAFLORES, HORIBATA, YAP (J.G.), AGYAO, ALANO, DALOG, MOMO, SINGSON (R.V.), CALDERON, YNARES, CORVERA, REGENCIA, CASTRO, GONZALES (A.M.), TUPAS, PLEYTO, BANCORO, RODRIGUEZ (E.), BELTRAN, DAZA, DEL MAR, GUINTU, BARBA, CAYTON, COLLANTES, ROMAN, ROQUE, UMALI AND SUAN AN ACT DECLARING THE PASSIG ISLET, LOCATED IN BARANGAY BATO, MUNICIPALITY OF STA. CRUZ, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL SUR, AS AN ECOTOURISM SITE Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The Passig Islet, located in Barangay Bato, Municipality of Sta. Cruz,

2 Province of Davao del Sur, is hereby declared an ecotourism site. As such, its development shall be prioritized and supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of ecotourism sites.

SEC. 2. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the Municipal Government of

6 Sta. Cruz shall, in coordination with the DOT and concerned agencies of the government, prepare a tourism development plan that shall include the construction, installation, and maintenance of such appropriate infrastructure and facilities to enhance tourism in the area: Provided, That said

1 development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of the natural beauty and resources of the area: Provided, further, That the implementation of the tourism development plan shall be included in the budget of the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz.

SEC. 3. The DOT shall assist the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz in the

5 implementation of the tourism development plan by providing technical assistance in tourism 6 capacity building. It shall also include the Passig Islet in its national and regional promotion 7 programs.

SEC. 4. The funding for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual

9 budget of the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz. The DOT may augment such allocation with internally generated funds.

SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Municipal Government

12 of Sta. Cruz shall, in consultation with the DOT and concerned agencies of the government, 13 promulgate the rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SEC. 6. All laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, proclamations, presidential decrees,

and other issuances inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.