By Charissa Luci-Atienza The House Committee on Tourism has passed a bill seeking to declare Camarines Norte as the “Surfing Capital of the Bicol Region.” (PINTEREST / MANILA BULLETIN) The House panel, presided by vice chairperson Bohol 1st district Rep. Edgar Chatto, approved House Bill No. 2696, principally authored by Camarines Norte 2nd district Rep. Marisol Panotes. Panotes cited that the coastal Barangay Bagasbas in the Municipality of Daet, the capital town of Camarines Norte, has become one of the major tourist destinations in the Bicol Region because of the giant curly waves along the barangay’s coastlines that have been attracting local and foreign tourists who are surfing aficionados. “The realization of the noble objective of the bill will certainly help develop not only this coastal barangay, but the entire province of Camarines Norte due to the possible influx of surfers that will greatly contribute to further growth of tourism in the Bicol Region,” she said. HB 2696, the proposed "Camarines Norte Surfing Capital of the Bicol Region Act" provides that the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned agencies shall prioritize the province’s development, subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of tourism sites. The bill provides that within one year from the approval of the proposed Act, the DOT, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other concerned government agencies, shall prepare a tourism development plan. The development plan shall involve the construction, installation, and maintenance of appropriate facilities and infrastructure to develop and promote the beaches and surfing activities in Camarines Norte and also improve accessibility of the province and ensure security of tourists. The DOT, in coordination with other concerned government agencies, shall take immediate steps to implement the development plan and incorporate it in the DOT’s tourism development programs for the ensuing calendar year, the bill provides. HB 2696 tasks the Secretary of Tourism to include in the DOT’s programs the implementation of the proposed Act. The funding for the implementation of the proposed Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and from internally-generated funds of the DOT, it said. Within 90 days from the effectivity of the Act, the DOT, in consultation with the local government of Camarines Norte, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for its proper implementation, the measure provides. Related story: House tourism panel approves bill naming CamSur the PH’s ‘wakeboarding capital’