MARAWI CITY (PIA) — An eco-friendly tourism hub that showcases the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of the Bangsamoro region’s diverse communities has been proposed in the Bangsamoro Parliament.
Parliament Bill No. 324, primarily authored by Member of the Parliament John Anthony Lim, emphasizes the value of economic opportunities, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability.
Designated Environment, Culture, and Opportunity (ECO) villages will highlight the diverse cultures and natural landscapes of BARMM’s indigenous and local communities, including the Bajau, B’laan, Dulangan Manobo, Higaonon, Iranun, Lambangian, Maguindanaon, Maranao, Sama, Tausug, Teduray, and Yakan peoples.
These villages will serve as a model for sustainable tourism by incorporating local traditions and practices into their development plans. It seeks to provide economic benefits to the communities involved while ensuring that tourism activities do not compromise environmental integrity.
The measure offers villages a decade of tax-free incentives on taxes and duties imposed by BARMM to stimulate investment and promote eco-friendly tourism hubs.
The Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) and the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCHPH), will oversee the Act’s implementation. The guidelines will cover site selection, infrastructure, cultural programs, and compliance with environmental and tourism laws.
Private entities, including corporations, cooperatives, partnerships, and sole proprietorships, can establish ECO Tourism Villages, provided they register with MTIT. These entities must meet specific ownership criteria, ensuring residents have a significant stake in the projects.
The BARMM government will allocate at least P10 million per province or city annually to support the development of these villages. (BARMM Parliament/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
