Senator Mark Villar successfully pushed House Bill No. 5598, or An Act Declaring the City of Maasin and the Municipalities of Malitbog and Padre Burgos in the Province of Southern Leyte as Tourism Zones, to be approved by the Senate on Second Reading.
In Villar’s sponsorship speech, he underlines the actions on the focused strategic localities of this bill: “This bill will prepare a tourism development plan for the City of Maasin and the Municipalities of Malitbog and Padre Burgos that will develop, maintain, improve, and restore them as tourism spots.”
“This bill will prepare a tourism development plan for the City of Maasin and the Municipalities of Malitbog and Padre Burgos that will develop, maintain, improve, and restore them as tourism spots.”
The chosen localities highlight the region’s treasures and natural wonders that can also contend with famous tourist spots nationally and internationally.
The legislator notes that the declaration of the City of Maasin and the Municipalities of Malitbog and Padre Burgos as tourism zones is a stride towards facilitating development and progress in the region.
“This will provide a comprehensive framework for tourism development, including master planning, infrastructure upgrades, and improved governance to boost growth and sustainability. This entails empowering them with the resources to facilitate better accessibility to tourist destinations and improve the overall tourist experience, making Southern Leyte more attractive to visitors,” the lawmaker stressed.
The bill’s proposed comprehensive framework for the respective localities’ tourism development is also more than just infrastructure upgrades and mere tourism promotions. It will also economically improve the lives of locals and small businesses in the area.
“This development guarantees economic growth for the city, municipalities, and their people, opening up career and livelihood opportunities.”
“This development guarantees economic growth for the city, municipalities, and their people, opening up career and livelihood opportunities. This much-welcomed economic boost will elevate the country’s tourism campaign while also improving the lives of the people living in Leyte,” the senator emphasized.
Ultimately, declaring the localities as tourism zones will certainly upgrade the list of promising tourist spots in the country. This will also simultaneously improve the nation’s tourism agenda, showcasing the region’s beauty, and fostering local progress and development.
“This proposed measure will weave the stories of Southern Leyte and its people with the national development agenda, bringing forth their progress while preserving their inherent natural beauty and rich cultural history,” he stressed.
