Title
IRR of RA 11407 on Candon City Ecotourism Zone
Law
Irr Of Republic Act No. 11407
Decision Date
Oct 24, 2022
The Implementing Rules and Regulations establish the Candon City Ecotourism Zone as a designated tourist destination, prioritizing sustainable development and community involvement while ensuring the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage.
ecotourism
implementing rules
republic act

Policy declaration and purpose

  • The Candon City Ecotourism Zone (CCEZ) in the City of Candon, Province of Ilocos Sur is declared a tourist destination.
  • The Department of Tourism (DOT) prioritizes the development of the CCEZ, considering its physical and natural characteristics and the surrounding communities and barangays.
  • CCEZ development is governed by the rules and regulations applicable to tourist destination development, while aligning development with ecotourism principles.

Key definitions for the IRR

  • “Attached agencies” refer to agencies attached to the DOT, including TIEZA.
  • “Ecotourism” is sustainable tourism in natural and/or cultural heritage areas that fosters community participation, protection and management of natural resources, culture and indigenous knowledge and practices, environmental education and ethics, and economic benefits for host communities and visitor satisfaction.
  • “Ecotourism Zone” refers to areas that enable visitors to experience sustainable tourism within natural and/or cultural areas that foster community participation, conservation and management of biodiversity, respect for culture and indigenous knowledge systems and practices, environmental education and ethics, and economic benefits for host community enrichment and visitor satisfaction.
  • An “Ecotourism Zone” includes, among others: scenic natural or rural beauty sites, wildlife observation areas, low impact activity areas (including camping, trekking, climbing, spelunking, diving, surfing, and similar activities), and sites for observing and interacting with traditional or indigenous environmental practices.
  • “Tourist destination” is a specific place tourists come to see and experience, including existing attractions, natural scenic beauty areas, man-made attractions, or potential development/enhancement tourism areas.

Coverage: location and ecotourism area

  • The CCEZ technical description begins at a point marked 1, identical to MBM No. 31, CAD 103, Candon Cadastre Ilocos Sur.
  • The CCEZ boundary is defined by detailed metes and bounds using bearings and distances from point 1 through points 2 to 64, returning to point 1.
  • The CCEZ area is three hundred ninety-five and 25/100 (395.25) hectares, more or less.
  • Maps and/or nautical charts must indicate the CCEZ metes and bounds.
  • Contiguous or adjacent areas with similar flora and fauna are deemed included only for purposes of conservation and protection.
  • Any modification of CCEZ coverage due to changing ecological situations, new scientific or archaeological findings, or discovery of traditional boundaries not previously taken into account must be made through an act of Congress, after consultation with the concerned government agencies.

Tourism development plan requirements

  • The Candon City Ecotourism Zone Tourism Development Plan (“Plan”) includes the construction, installation, and maintenance of appropriate facilities and infrastructure that improve the area’s accessibility and security of tourists.
  • The Plan must ensure preservation and conservation of the area’s environmental and historic significance.
  • All activities and development within the CCEZ under the Plan must conform to the concept of ecotourism under the National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan (NESAP) jointly issued by DENR and DOT.
  • The DOT, through the DOT Regional Office, prepares the Plan in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs) and with TIEZA, DENR, DPWH, and other relevant government agencies.
  • The Plan must incorporate the following development components as supplements to any existing action plan by the relevant LGU:
    • road networks
    • infrastructure
    • electricity
    • water source
    • telecommunication
    • distribution of opportunities and benefits from ecotourism development in the CCEZ with other barangays
    • an administrative body dedicated to facilities in the Ecotourism Zone

Implementation structure and government roles

  • The primary implementers are the LGUs of Candon City, in collaboration with the barangays Palacapac, San Andres, Cubcubbuot, and Amguid (and others included in the land area covered by CCEZ).
  • Sta. Lucia and Salcedo municipalities are designated as the primary partners for implementation.
  • The primary partner agencies are: DOT, TIEZA, DENR, DPWH, DA, BFAR, DepEd, HEIs, SUCs, TESDA, DTI, DOH, DOST, NWRB, NCCA, and NGOs.
  • The partner agencies provide assistance consistent with their mandates and the roles they carry under NESAP 2013–2022.
  • Each partner agency has specific ecotourism support functions, including:
    • DOT: ensure tourism economic benefits are shared widely and responsible tourism is practiced.
    • TIEZA: act as DOT’s implementing arm for infrastructure and development.
    • DENR: conservation, management, development, and sustainable use of the environment and natural resources.
    • DPWH: build and maintain roads and bridges for access to ecotourism sites.
    • DA: inclusive development of farming and fishing communities.
    • BFAR: develop, improve, manage, and conserve fishery and aquatic resources.
    • DepEd, HEIs, SUCs: continuity of knowledge through research, extension, and production related to ecotourism; studies on local literature and cultural narratives and practices.
    • TESDA: organize tourism-related vocational training in coordination with DOT.
    • DTI: foster local products for international promotion/marketing; enhance tourism-related business establishments; coordinate, promote, and facilitate trade, industry, and investment in the ecotourism.
    • DOH: assist DENR and DOT in visitor management (including carrying capacity, site development plan, zoning plan, and related visitor management tools).
    • DOST: protect natural resources by providing insights on carrying capacity for sustainable ecotourism; develop technological advances to address existing environmental issues.
    • NWRB: oversee water line concerns of the area.
    • NCCA: support conservation of cultural heritage resources forming the ecotourism base.
    • NGOs: implement ecotourism-related programs/projects in a limited basis as components of their conservation or environmental management programs, usually in partnership with DENR or LGUs.
  • The DOT, with its attached agencies, in close coordination with LGUs and other partner government agencies, must take immediate steps to implement the Plan suitable to CCEZ needs and incorporate it into the National Tourism Development Plan.
  • Candon City may seek assistance and forge partnerships with other LGUs within the CCEZ, other government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector to ensure implementation of the IRR and the tourism development plan.

Funding, separability, repeal, and final effect

  • The DOT includes in its program the implementation of Republic Act No. 11407, with funding included in the annual General Appropriations Act and from internally generated funds.
  • Any provision or part of these implementing rules declared unconstitutional does not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
  • Existing DOT rules and regulations or circulars inconsistent with these implementing rules are repealed and/or modified accordingly.

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