The Senate has approved on second reading House Bill No. 5598, which seeks to declare the province of Southern Leyte as a tourism zone. The approval occurred during the plenary session on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Mark Villar, aims to enhance tourism infrastructure while preserving the province’s natural and cultural heritage. Senator Villar emphasized that the measure would integrate Southern Leyte’s development with the National Development Agenda, promoting progress while safeguarding its inherent natural beauty and rich cultural history.
Under the proposed legislation, the Department of Tourism (DOT), in coordination with the provincial government and other relevant agencies, is mandated to prepare a tourism development plan within one year of the Act’s approval. This plan will focus on developing, maintaining, improving, and restoring tourism sites, ensuring ecological balance and the preservation of natural beauty.
Southern Leyte, located in the Eastern Visayas region, boasts of numerous attractions, including the historic Limasawa Island, known as the site of the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines; the Agas-Agas Bridge, the tallest bridge in the country; and various natural sites such as Cambaro Caves, Tagbak Marine Park, and Tangkaan Beach.
The bill also provides that the DOT shall assist the provincial government in implementing the tourism development plan by providing technical assistance in tourism capacity building and including Southern Leyte in national and regional promotion programs.
With the Senate’s approval on second reading, the bill moves closer to becoming law, pending final approval and enactment. (Sources: Senate of the Philippines, Senate Legislative Information System, Philippine News Agency (PNA), Tourism features of Southern Leyte, Department of Tourism – Eastern Visayas Region, Destination Highlights)
