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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City,
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
GREEN CONTRACT SYSTEM OF 2013 OR A BILL PROVIDING AN
INCENTIVE-BASED PROGRAM FOR ENTREPRENEURS OF SMALL TO
MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES FOCUSING ON ECOTOURISM

BRIEFER
With the possession of the Philippines having around 7, 100 islands, the Philippines is
considered one the worlds zones which are biologically reach (Philippines). However, with
the onslaught of irresponsible practices from our uneducated citizens living in the coastal
areas and land forests, we are also considered to be one of the most threatened ones leading to
species that are labelled as endangered. Among the reasons include:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Kaingin
Water, air, land pollution
Illegal Trade
Pest and Diseases

According to the IUCN Red List 2011 there are already 38 species and 55 species of fauna
and flora respectively that are endangered in our local habitats. (Philippine Biodiversity)
With the plan of the government to boost more of our countrys tourism performance
for more foreign and local investors and visitors (target of 5 million this year) (Olchondra),
this calls our citizens to be more vigilant and for our government to call for more engagement
from the Philippine community to protect our wildlife and environment. Now that we are
promoting the line Its more fun in the Philippines, it would be appropriate for our country
to take pride in our own natural resources as our source of tourism and economic
development.
As a Management Engineering student, I believe that through this bill, it would gather
more community engagement from the our country by supporting budding entrepreneurs of
small to medium scale enterprises who can link their business with environmental
management and at the same time tourism. I believe that with the bills incentive-based
nature, it can gather more support from the community because of a reward system waiting
for them. Instead of imposing more and more penalties and fines for enterprises violating the
policies about the environment, it would be better if we approach it with a positive light. I
believe that this is patterned after the Mechanization Law for the agriculture sector.
Moreover, according to a study of Kevin Gould from the University of Florida-Department of
Forest Resources and Conservation, eco-tourism businesses usually get weak because of lack

of marketing strategies (Gould). In order to give solution to this problem, the government can
also work hand in hand with accredited enterprises with the Green Contract to promote them
and make these enterprises more visible to the public audience.

WORKS CITED
Gould, K.A. Evaluation of three market based strategies for promoting ecotourism in petn,
Guatemala: Green certification, private reserves, And collaborative marketing. University of
Florida. Department of Forest Resources and Conservation.
Olchondra, R.T. DOT upgrades tourism target for 2013. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 21, Jun.
2013. Web. 20, July. 2013.
Philippine Biodiversity: Status and Threats. Philippine MEA Portal. United Nations
Development Program. Web. 20, July. 2013.
Philippines. Conservation International. Web. 20, July. 2013.

Republic of the Philippines


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City,
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
GREEN CONTRACT SYSTEM OF 2013 OR A BILL PROVIDING AN
INCENTIVE-BASED PROGRAM FOR ENTREPRENEURS OF SMALL TO
MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES FOCUSING ON ECOTOURISM

Be it here enacted by the House of Representatives:

Preamble
The Philippine government resolves to subsidize both public and private ecotourism
enterprises to ensure the sustainability, development, and the safety of the environmental
tourism industry. The Senate and House of Representatives will act to consider the
implications of the debate on funding such program in order to maximize the countrys supply
of natural resources.

Definitions
Ecotourism- Ecotourism is a form of tourism within a natural setting wherein the community
is engaged to practice preservation or improvement of their environment and natural
resources for economic benefits. This in turn can translate to revenue of some small to
medium scale enterprises without the expense of consuming our natural resources.
Spending- Spending shall mean the allocations of the budget.
Accreditation- The term accreditation means compliance with the minimum standards of
the National Ecotourism Development Council. Enterprises accredited can enjoy full
provisions of this bill.

Content
1. The Regional Ecotourism Development Councils are mandated by the government to
create committees known as the Green Contract Admission and Regulatory
Committee or Green-CAR who will accommodate the applicants for the incentive
based program.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

a. The respective committees of each region are then required to follow the
minimum standards to be imposed by the central Department of Environment and
Natural Resources and Department of Tourism.
The government mandates that all Regional Ecotourism Development Councils will
provide incentive-based programs for accredited small to medium scale enterprises
focusing on ecotourism which underlies environmental management, such that:
a. The business taxes for ecotourism enterprises shall be removed and income taxes
of such groups shall be relaxed in accordance with the set standards of the REDC.
b. The starting capital or costs of such enterprises shall be subsidized too by the
REDC synchronized with the consultation of DENR.
c. The cost of clean-ups of certain areas and maintenance of tourism vehicles shall
also be subsidized by the government.
d. The government is also required to fund the scientific studies and researches of
the ecotourism enterprises which focus on improving or innovating ways of
managing the environment.
e. The REDC shall then release a Green Certificate as an evidence of a contract
between the public office and the enterprise.
The government directs budding or present entrepreneurs of small to medium scale
ecotourism enterprises to submit proposals or evidences of the efficiency of the
business to their REDC, in order for:
a. The REDC to evaluate their proposals and current business to process applicants
who can avail of the incentive-based program.
b. Ecotourism entrepreneurs to be exposed in the free market as a solution to the
main challenge imposed to these types of businesses in terms of marketing.
c. Ecotourism entrepreneurs to effectively manage the environment with the help of
the governments subsidy.
The REDC shall then provide a subsidy encompassing a percentage of the starting
capital of the entrepreneurs ecotourism business under their discretion.
a. The entrepreneur is required to submit a list of the needed assets and tools to start
with the business.
b. The REDC shall inform immediately the entrepreneur of its decision of
percentage of help to capital.
The accredited business shall report monthly to the REDC for the development and
progress of their businesses and environmental management practices.
a. The entrepreneur is required to provide documentation of the progress of the plan
approved by the REDC.
b. The entrepreneur shall then provide official receipts as evidence to where the
subsidy was spent in the process.
The REDC shall then evaluate again accredited ecotourism business monthly upon
submission of reports.
a. The REDC is responsible to help businesses in good practice but lacking in
sufficient audience through helping them more in terms of marketing it to the
public especially to foreigners.
b. The REDC has the right to withdraw the contract from businesses failing to
comply with the agreements in the green certificate.
This bill shall take effect 3 months after passage.

a. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of


Tourism are then mandated to establish a collaboration to formulate policies for
the release of Green Contracts.
b. DENR and DOT are also allowed to coordinate their policies and minimum
standards with other external parties concerning topics on environmental
c. Funding for the Green-CAR policy shall then come from the pool of fines
incurred through violations of citizens against the policies of Department of
Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Tourism.
8. Regional Ecotourism Development Councils who fail to comply with the provisions
are subject to:
a. A fine of Php 100,000.
b. Suspension of Work.
c. The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources and Department of
Tourism shall then take charge of the investigation and charges against the REDC
at hand.
9. Any portion or provision of this Act that may be declared unconstitutional shall not
have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such
remaining provisions can still subsist and be given effect.
10. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
and in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

PROPOSED BY:
DUQUE, MARC WENDOLF N., PAMPANGA

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