Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos is pushing for the declaration of Abra as a Tourism and Cultural Heritage Area, which he believes would help in pursuing a sustainable, inclusive, and culturally-rooted development of tourism in the province.
Bernos pointed out that “Abra is blessed not only with various natural wonders, but also with a rich culture and heritage that can still be witnessed in its communities to this day.”
“Naniniwala tayong angkop naman ang pagkakaroon ng special designation ng ating lalawigan, na inaasahan din nating makakatulong upang lalo pa natin maprotektahan ang ating mga yamang likas at kultural.”
Abra boasts attractions such as Kaparkan Falls, the 19th-century Baroque Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church, and Tangadan Tunnel, among others.
Through House Bill No. 3120 or the Abra Tourism and Cultural Heritage Development bill, Bernos seeks Abra’s declaration as a priority tourism development area and institutionalize a comprehensive framework for the sector’s development.
According to Bernos, his bill provides the policy and programmatic foundation for Abra to harness tourism as a driver of inclusive progress and rural transformation.
The lawmaker added that HB 3120 hopes to complement locally HB 3110 or the Community-Based Tourism bill, which was filed by Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos. The Community-Based Tourism bill seeks to promote community-based tourism in the country and ensure that communities earn from the financial benefits of tourism.
HB 3120 also proposes the institutionalization and promotion of flagship events like the Kawayan Festival, which showcases Abra’s identity as a leading bamboo-producing province and highlights the role of local culture in tourism and economic development.
Likewise mandated by the measure is the creation of a 10-year Abra Tourism Development Framework to identify tourism development zones; establish guidelines for ecotourism, heritage conservation, and cultural protection, assess and evaluate the potential impact of the development to the environmental safety and well-being of the tourism and cultural heritage zones, communities, and enterprises, among others.
“Dito sa Abra, ipinagmamalaki namin ang ganda ng aming bayan. Naniniwala kaming panahon na para mas marami pa ang makaranas ng ganda nito.”
It also calls for the conduct of a comprehensive cultural mapping project, identifying sites, practices, and artifacts of historical and cultural value.
Abra boasts attractions such as Kaparkan Falls, the 19th-century Baroque Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church, and Tangadan Tunnel, among others. It is also home to centuries-old Tingguian cultural traditions, as well as weaving and bamboo crafts, which are highlighted during the Kawayan Festival.
“Dito sa Abra, ipinagmamalaki namin ang ganda ng aming bayan. Naniniwala kaming panahon na para mas marami pa ang makaranas ng ganda nito. Kayat mi nga ibingay iti dayag ken kinapintas iti amianan — kadagiti amin nga kakailian iti enteri nga pagilian. (We want to share the pride and beauty of the North—our home—with our fellow Filipinos across the country.)”
