Title
Batanes Responsible Tourism Act
Law
Republic Act No. 10866
Decision Date
Jun 23, 2016
The Batanes Responsible Tourism Act promotes responsible and sustainable tourism in the Province of Batanes, prioritizing the preservation of its ecology, cultural heritage, and indigenous social institutions, while generating employment and livelihood for local residents.
sustainable tourism
cultural heritage
indigenous social institutions

Policy and declared purposes

  • Republic Act No. 10866 recognizes, respects, and protects the rights of indigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions, and requires that these rights be considered in national plans and policies.
  • The State promotes a tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable, responsible, participative, culturally sensitive, economically viable, and equitable for local communities.
  • Batanes is declared a cultural heritage and ecotourism zone and is accorded priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
  • Tourism development in Batanes must pursue inherent values and characteristics that shape the uniqueness of Ivatan culture and the beauty of the islands of Batanes, including:
    • the integrity of ecology and environment;
    • the richness of natural and cultural heritage; and
    • the resilience of indigenous social institutions.
  • Republic Act No. 10866 aims to develop and promote responsible, community-based ecological-cultural tourism as the core management strategy.
  • The Act requires conservation of biodiversity and preservation of the Province’s unique heritage and culture.
  • Tourism must generate employment and livelihood for local residents while consistent with preserving and maintaining local heritage and culture.
  • Financial and economic benefits must be equitably shared by, and distributed among, Ivatans and local residents, with preference and support for community- and home-based tourism enterprises such as:
    • local inns and lodges;
    • homestays;
    • restaurants;
    • food and fruit stands;
    • arts and craft shops; and
    • similar tourism-oriented industries and businesses.
  • Local tourism programs and activities must be educational and enriching for tourists and visitors through orientation, educational, and tour programs by local tour operators, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), local government units (LGUs), and DOT.
  • Local government units must ensure that in developing and promoting the local tourism industry, the needs of local residents and communities in water supply, food, energy, and local construction materials are first secured and met.

Definitions established by the Act

  • Biodiversity conservation refers to preserving the variety of species, habitats, ecosystems, and genetic diversity, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes they form.
  • Community-based tourism is tourism where the local community and its residents have substantial control over and involvement in developing and managing the local tourism industry, with a greater proportion of economic gains remaining within the community.
  • Cultural property covers all products of human creativity revealing identity, including churches, mosques, and other places of religious worship, schools, and natural history specimens and sites, whether public or privately owned, movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible.
  • Ecotourism is sustainable tourism within a natural and cultural heritage area that fosters community participation, protection, and management of natural resources, cultural and indigenous knowledge and practices, environmental education and ethics, and economic benefits that enrich host communities and satisfy visitors.
  • Homestay is tourist accommodation where a tourist stays with local residents to experience the day-to-day life of Ivatans and their communities.
  • Indigenous social institutions are institutions embodying Ivatan community orientation and cooperation, including indigenous cooperative institutions in:
    • house construction,
    • boat building and fishing,
    • agricultural cultivation,
    • wake and burial practices, and
    • public infrastructure construction.
  • Ivatan natural and cultural heritage comprises landscapes, seascapes, historic places, sites, and built environments of the Province precisely delineated for their outstanding value from the standpoint of science, conservation, natural beauty, and biodiversity, and includes past and continuing cultural practices, knowledge, and living experiences that are foundations for present and future generations.
  • Landscapes are historic, cultural, symbolic vistas and sight corridors of cultural sites, including fixed or immovable structures and the configuration and established relationships among structures.
  • Responsible ecotourism is sustainable tourism where both the tourism sector and tourists take responsibility for protecting, respecting, and conserving the natural environment and local culture and ways of life, while fostering community participation and economic benefits for the well-being of local people and satisfaction of visitors.
  • Sustainable tourism development is management of all resources to meet tourist and host region needs simultaneously, protect future opportunities, fulfill economic, social, and aesthetic needs, and preserve cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life-supporting and life-perpetuating systems.

Geographic scope and coverage

  • Republic Act No. 10866 covers the same boundaries as defined in Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8991, titled “Batanes Protected Area Act of 2000.”

Tourism planning and participation

  • The DOT, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), must assist in formulating the Provincial Tourism Development Plan.
  • The Provincial Tourism Development Plan must be complemented by guidelines and standards for responsible, community-based ecotourism.
  • The tourism development plan must ensure:
    • preservation of natural sites;
    • preservation of the cultural and historic significance of identified tourist attractions; and
    • respect for Ivatan culture and traditions.
  • The tourism development plan must include:
    • carrying capacity of sites;
    • specific site assessments;
    • identification of strategic priorities;
    • product development for local income generation;
    • capacity-building for local communities so residents can manage economically viable and responsible, community-based ecotourism business enterprises;
    • support for formation of local production groups and networks, including marketing and pricing of products; and
    • marketing strategies reflecting Batanes’ natural, cultural, social, and environmental integrity.
  • The Tourism Master Plan process must be participatory, from the bottom up, using the framework provided by DOT, DENR, NCIP, and NCCA, in consultation with provincial and municipal governments.

Guidelines and local standards

  • The concerned Protected Area Management Board of the DENR, the NCIP, and the local tourism council, in coordination with the LGUs, must assist in formulating local tourism standards in the context of environmental stability.
  • The same bodies must recommend guidelines ensuring that biodiversity conservation and environmental protection are integrated in the development of heritage and ecotourism plans.
  • The guidelines and standards must:
    • raise the capacity of all stakeholders and ensure best practices are followed;
    • ensure optimal use of water and energy;
    • reduce waste and pollution by encouraging recycling and environmentally-sound waste management disposal schemes, applying a principle of taking as much waste away from the site as possible; and
    • encourage use of local produce and services and support employment of local people.

Implementation coordination and IRR

  • The DOT must closely coordinate with provincial and municipal governments of Batanes and with regional and provincial offices of relevant national government agencies to implement the Act, including:
    • DENR,
    • NCIP,
    • NCCA,
    • the National Historical Commission,
    • the National Museum,
    • Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),
    • Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),
    • Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC),
    • Department of Agriculture (DA),
    • Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
    • Department of Education (DepED),
    • Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
    • Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
    • Philippine National Police (PNP),
    • Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), and
    • Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
  • The DOT, DENR, NCIP, and NCCA, in consultation with provincial and municipal governments of Batanes, concerned government agencies, and stakeholders, must promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for proper implementation within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of the Act.

Repeal, separability, and effect

  • If any provision or part of Republic Act No. 10866 is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected remain in force and effect (separability).
  • All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential issuances, and other administrative rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with Republic Act No. 10866 are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly (repealing clause).

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