SIARGAO ISLAND ECO-TOURISM

AUTHORITY
A BRIEFER
 SIARGAO ISLAND
• Asia’s Surfing Paradise
• A New Game Fishing Destination
in the Philippines
• Has a diverse tourism attractions
that is getting recognized locally
and internationally
• A haven for nature lovers,
adventurists and thrill seekers
 SIARGAO ISLAND

... needs a SUSTAINABLE

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.
 NATURE TOURISM/ECO-TOURISM

• RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

BASED ON NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
• A PROMISING MEANS OF ADVANCING SOCIAL,
ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
OBJECTIVES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SUCH
AS OURS
 NATURE TOURISM/ECO-TOURISM

• WILL TRANSLATE TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES

FOR SMALL-ENTERPRISE INVESTMENTS AND
EMPLOYMENT.
• REQUIRES POLICIES THAT FOSTER
RESPONSIBLE NATURE TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT, BROAD-BASED AND ACTIVE
LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSERVATION
OF THE AREA’S BIOLOGICAL HERITAGE
HOUSE BILL 1532
• INTRODUCED BY CONG.
FRANCISCO T. MATUGAS

• FILED IN THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 14th
CONGRESS, RE-FILED IN TOTO IN
THE 15th CONGRESS
HOUSE BILL 1532
• SEEKS TO ESTABLISH THE SIARGAO
ISLAND ECO-TOURISM AUTHORITY
• DECLARE THE 9 MUNICIPALITIES
OF SIARGAO ISLAND AS A SPECIAL
ZONE FOR TOURISM AND
ECOLOGICAL ENTERPRISES TO BE
KNOWN AS THE SIARGAO ISLAND
ECO-TOURISM AREA
HOUSE BILL 1532
‘AN ACT DECLARING THE
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE FIRST
DISTRICT OF SURIGAO DEL NORTE
AS ECO-TOURISM AREA,
CREATING AN AUTHORITY TO
MANAGE AND ADMINISTER THE
SAME, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.’    
PURPOSE:
• ESTABLISH AN IMPLEMENTING
OFFICE OR AGENCY WHOSE
RESPONSIBILITY AND FOCUS IS TO
OVERSEE, REGULATE AND
PROPERLY MANAGE THE
TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA
PURPOSE:
• FOR SIARGAO ISLAND TO BE
PROTECTED AGAINST ADVERSE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL
EFFECTS THAT CAN COME WITH
OVERBUILDING OF TOURIST
FACILITIES AN INFLUX OF
POPULATIONS AROUND A
FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM
PURPOSE:
• RAISE LOCAL AWARENESS ABOUT
THE VALUE OF BIOLOGICAL
RESOURCES, INCREASE LOCAL
PARTICIPATION IN THE BENEFITS
OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
AND GENERATING REVENUES
TOWARD CONSERVATION OF
BIOLOGICALLY-RICH AREAS.
 FUNCTIONS OF SIETA

• WILL PERFORM PLANNING, MONITORING

AND COORDINATIVE FUNCTIONS, AND IN THE
PROCESS EXERCISE REGULATORY AND
SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY OVER THE
TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA WITHOUT
DIMINUTION OF THE AUTONOMY OF THE
LGUs
 FUNCTIONS OF SIETA

• WILL SERVE AS A UNITING BODY OR

FACILITATOR OF THE EFFORTS OF THE LGUs,
NATIONAL AGENCIES, NON-GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR
INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM OR ECO-TOURISM IN
THE ISLAND.
HOUSE BILL 1532
SECTION 1. DECLARATION AS ECO-
TOURISM AREA

• The municipalities of Burgos, Dapa, Del

Carmen, Gen. Luna, Pilar, San Benito, San
Isidro, Sta. Monica, and Soccoro in the first
district of Surigao del Norte shall be declared
as eco- tourism areas, to be known as the
Siargao eco- Tourism area.
 SECTION 2. CREATION OF THE SIARGAO
ISLAND ECO-TOURISM AUTHORITY
(SIETA)
• To manage and administer the Siargao Eco-
tourism Area, there is hereby created a body
corporate to be known as the Siargao Island
Eco-tourism Authority, hereinafter referred to
as the “SIETA”.
SECTION 3. POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS OF SIETA
a. To act as the lead agency in the
implementation of the projects of
the DOT, TIEZA, DPWH, DA, DENR,
DTI, DOTC, DEPED and other
agencies of the government, in
consultation and coordination
with all the local government and
non-governmental organizations
in the Siargao Eco-Tourism Area;
SECTION 3. POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS OF SIETA
b. To undertake and regulate the
establishment, operation, and
maintenance of utilities, other
services and infrastructure in the
Siargao Eco-Tourism Area;
SECTION 3. POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS OF SIETA
c. To construct, acquire, own, lease,
operate and maintain on its own
or through a contract, franchise
and license permits or build-
operate-transfer scheme or joint
venture the required utilities and
infrastructure, in coordination
with local government units and
other government agencies;
SECTION 3. POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS OF SIETA
d. To adopt, alter and use a
corporate seal;
e. To own, acquire, lease, sell and
dispose of properties;
f. To use and sued in its own name
in order, to carry out its duties
and functions as provided for this
Act;
SECTION 3. POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS OF SIETA
g. Within the limitations provided for by law,
to raise and/or borrow the necessary funds
from local and international financial
institutions, to issue bonds, promissory
notes, and other securities for that
purpose, and to secure the same by
guarantee, pledge, mortgage, deed of
trust, or assignment of its properties for
the purpose of financing its projects and
programs within the framework and
limitations of this Act;
SECTION 3. POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS OF SIETA
h. To operate and issue licenses to
tourism-related activities
including games and amusements,
except horse racing, dog racing,
and casinos which shall require a
license to be issued by other
government agencies upon the
recommendation of the SIETA;
SECTION 3. POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS OF SIETA
i. To maintain and preserve the
forested areas as national parks;
j. To authorize the establishment of
appropriate educational and
medical institutions in the area;
k. To protect, maintain and develop
the virgin forests within the Area
which will be proclaimed as
national parks;
SECTION 3. POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS OF SIETA
l. To adopt and implement
measures and standards for
environmental pollution control of
areas within its territory; and
m. To exercise such powers
necessary, appropriate or
incidental to its powers and
duties, and to cary out the policies
and objectives of this Act;
 SECTION 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• The powers of the SIETA shall be vested in and

exercised by a Board of Directors, which shall
be composed of seventeen (17) members, to
wit:
 SECTION 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(a) The nine (9) incumbent mayors from the nine municipalities that
comprise the Siargao Eco-tourism Area;
(b) The Regional Director of the DOT, as ex-officio member;
(c) The Regional Director of the DTI, as ex-officio member;
(d) The Regional Director of the DPWH, as ex-officio member;
(e) The Regional Director of the DA, as ex-officio member;
(f) The Regional Director of the DENR, as ex-officio member;
(g) The Regional Director of the DOTC, as ex-officio member;
(h) The Regional Director of Dept. of Education, as ex-officio member;
(i) One (1) representative from the private sector;
(j) One (1) representative from any civil society group or non-
government organization (NGO).
 SECTION 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Chairman and other members of the Board

shall be appointed by the President to serve a
term of six(6) years unless sooner removed for
cause, except for the municipal mayors who
shall serve for the duration of their term. In
case of removal for cause, resignation, death, or
permanent incapacity, the replacement shall
only serve only the unexpired portion of the
term.
 SECTION 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

No person shall be appointed as member of

the Board, unless he is a Filipino citizen, of
good moral character, and of recognized
competence in relevant field, including but not
limited to economics, management,
international relations, law, or engineering.
Preference in the appointment shall be given to
residents within the Siargao Eco-tourism Area.
 SECTION 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board shall meet twice a month and as the

exigencies of the service demand. The members
of the Board shall receive a per diem of not
more than two thousand pesos (php2,000.00)
for every board meeting; provided, that the per
diem collected per month shall not exceed the
equivalent of four(4) meetings; The amount of
per diem maybe increased by the President
every two(2) years.
SECTION 5. QUORUM AND
VOTING
The members of the Board shall have
one (1) vote each. A majority of all
members shall constitute a quorum.
A decision shall, as far as practicable,
be reached by consensus. If no
consensus is reached, a decision
shall be arrived at upon a vote of the
majority of members of the board
constituting a quorum.
SECTION 6. ADMINISTRATOR
The President shall appoint a
professional manager as administrator
of the SIETA, with a compensation to be
determined by the Board upon approval
of the Secretary of budget and
Management. The Administrator shall
represent the Authority in all dealings
with other offices, agencies, and
instrumentalities of the government
and with all other persons and entities,
whether public or private, domestic,
foreign and international.
SECTION 7. SUPPORTING STAFF

The Board shall recommend to

the President the staffing pattern
of the SIETA, with their salaries
and duties.
SECTION 8. APPROPRIATION
The National Government shall
allocate php10,000,000,000.00
billion over a period of ten(10)
years as initial funding to
implement the provisions of this
Act.
SECTION 9. MASTER
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The Secretary of Tourism and SIETA, in consultation
and coordination with the Secretary of Environment
and Natural Resources, Secretary of trade and Industry
and all the municipal mayors, shall, within one (1) year
from the effectivity of this Act, prepare a master
development plan mandating the construction,
installation and maintenance of such appropriate
facilities and infrastructure as well as social economic,
health, sanitation, security and ecological programs
and projects: provided, that the development plan
shall ensure the preservation of the natural beauty
and historical significance of the Siargao Eco-tourism
Area as well as the integrity of the social, moral and
economic well being of the residents of the same.
SECTION 10. RULES AND
REGULATIONS
The Secretary of Tourism, in
coordination with the Secretary of trade
and Industry, Secretary of Public Works
and Highways, Secretary of Agriculture,
Secretary of Environment and Natural
Resources, all municipal mayors and
interested non-governmental
organizations, shall issue the
implementing rules and regulations
within sixty(60) days from the effectivity
of this Act.
SECTION 11. ANNUAL REPORT
The SIETA shall publish annually a
report of its operations and
achievements including therein its
financial statements. The annual
report shall be submitted to
Congress and to the municipal
mayors in the Siargao eco-tourism
Area.
SECTION 12. SEPARABILITY
CLAUSE
If any provision of this Act shall be
declared void and
unconstitutional, the remaining
provisions that are not affected
shall remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 13. REPEALING CLAUSE

All laws, decrees, orders, rules

and regulations, issuances, or
parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with any provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 14. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE

This Act shall take effect

fifteen(15) days after its
publication in at least two (2)
newspaper of general circulation.