CEBU CITY – A bill that would help boost tourism in the municipality of Bien Unido in Bohol province has been approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives.
Filed by Bohol Rep. Vanessa Aumentado, House Bill No. 6983 which seeks to declare the Bien Unido Double Barrier Reef and its immediate underwater environs a tourism destination will be forwarded to the Senate.
If enacted into law, the development of Bien Unido Double Barrier Reef shall be prioritized and supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The municipal government of Bien Unido, in coordination with DOT, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other concerned government agencies, shall also prepare development plan that would include construction, installation, and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure and facilities to ensure accessibility and the security of tourists in the area.
Development must ensure the preservation and conservation of the marine life and underwater geological significance of the area.
“The funding for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual budget of the municipal government of Bien Unido. The DOT may augment such allocation with internally generated funds,” the bill added.
Aumentado is hopeful that the bill will get through the Senate. “The bill will be tackled in the Senate and hopefully it will be approved and signed into law by our President so we can get needed funds for this area as a tourist destination,” said Aumentado.