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BillHBN-857120th Congress

Palani Beach (Masbate) as an Ecotourism Destination

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 the 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 protection.

TouristsLocal residentsBusiness ownersGovernment agencies
Timeliness
Timely

The bill addresses the need for sustainable tourism development in Balud, which is increasingly important for local economies.

Affects you ifTourists visiting BaludLocal businessesMunicipal Government of BaludProvincial Government of Masbate
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
2.3/ 10
Long title

Palani Beach (Masbate) as an Ecotourism Destination

Plain-language summary
AI Summary

This bill declares Palani Beach in Balud, Masbate, as an ecotourism destination, aiming to enhance tourism while preserving the area's natural beauty.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresThe Municipal Government of Balud must prepare a tourism development plan within one year after the approval of this Act.
RequiresThe Department of Tourism (DOT) must assist in implementing the tourism development plan and include Palani Beach in its promotion programs.
FundsFunding for the implementation shall be included in the annual budget of the Municipal Government of Balud, with possible augmentation from the DOT's internally generated funds.
DeadlineOne year after approval for the tourism development plan
DeadlineSixty days from 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

Palani Beach is not recognized as an ecotourism destination.

This bill

Palani Beach will be officially declared an ecotourism destination, leading to prioritized development.

Today

No formal tourism development plan exists for Palani Beach.

This bill

A tourism development plan must be created within one year, focusing on infrastructure and conservation.

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

The bill declares Palani Beach in Balud, Masbate, as an ecotourism destination, aiming to enhance tourism while preserving the area's natural beauty.

Source · full text
Issue areas
HealthLocal GovernmentSocial WelfareEcotourismDepartment of TourismPalani BeachBaludTourism Development Plan

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

Legislative history
May 6, 2026Senate
Introduced by Representatives ELISA "OLGA" T. KHO, ANTONIO T. KHO, ELEANDRO JESUS F. MADRONA, JUNARD "AHONG" Q. CHAN, ROSALIE ANG SALVAME, 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.

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Floor activity

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

Full text
HBN-8571 — verbatim textAs filed

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H. No. 8571 BY REPRESENTATIVES KHO (E.), KHO (A.), MADRONA, CHAN (J.), SALVAME, ANGARA, ALVAREZ (J.), TUAN, MIRAPLORES, 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, CAGAS, CAYTON, COLLANTES, ROMAN, ROQUE, UMALI AND SUAN AN ACT DECLARING THE PALANI BEACH, LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BALUD, PROVINCE OF MASBATE, AS AN ECOTOURISM DESTINATION Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The Palani Beach, located in the Municipality of Balud, Province of

2 Masbate, is hereby declared an ecotourism destination. Pursuant thereto, its development shall 3 be prioritized and supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT), subject to the rules and 4 regulations governing the development of ecotourism destinations.

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

6 of Balud shall, in coordination with the Provincial Government of Masbate, DOT, Department 7 of Environment and Natural Resources, and concerned agencies of the government, prepare a tourism development plan that shall include the construction, installation, and maintenance of 9 such appropriate infrastructure and facilities to enhance tourism in the area: Provided, That

said 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 Balud.

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

implementation of the tourism development plan by providing technical assistance in tourism capacity building. It shall also include Palani Beach in its national and regional promotion programs.

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

18 budget of the Municipal Govemment of Balud. The DOT may augment such allocation with 19 internally generated funds.

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

21 Govemment of Balud shall, in consultation with the DOT and concerned agencies of the government, promulgate the rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SEC. 6. All laws, rules, regulations, 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.