JB Bernos, representative of the province of Abra in the Philippine House of Representatives, is pushing for the declaration of the province as a Tourism and Cultural Heritage Area.
By doing so, Bernos hopes to help his constituency pursue its sustainable, inclusive, and culturally-rooted tourism development.
The lawmaker filed House of Representatives Bill (HB) 3120, or the Abra Tourism and Cultural Heritage Development bill on Tuesday, 26th August.
Through the filing, Bernos seeks Abra’s declaration as a priority tourism development area and to institutionalize a comprehensive framework for the sector’s development.
What does HB3120 entail?
HB3120 provides the policy and programmatic foundation for Abra to harness tourism as a driver of inclusive progress and rural transformation.
That said, the bill seeks the institutionalisation 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 ten-year Abra Tourism Development Framework to identify tourism development zones; establish guidelines for ecotourism, heritage conservation, and cultural protection; and assess and evaluate the potential impact of the development on the environmental safety and well-being of the tourism and cultural heritage zones, communities, and enterprises, among others.
It also calls for the conduct of a comprehensive cultural mapping project, identifying sites, practices, and artifacts of historical and cultural value.
In a statement, Bernos declared: “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.”
