REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7623, July 11, 1992

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7623, July 11, 1992 ]

AN ACT DECLARING VOLCANO ISLAND IN TAAL LAKE, PROVINCE OF BATANGAS, A TOURIST ZONE UNDER THE JOINT JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF LAUREL, BALETE, AGONCILLO, SAN NLCOLAS, AND TALISAY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The Volcano Island in Taal Lake, Province of Batangas, is herein, declared a tourist zone under the joint jurisdiction of the Department of Tourism, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the municipalities of Laurel, Balete, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, and Talisay. As such, it shall be accorded priority development by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and shall be subject to rules and regulations governing the development of tourist zones.

SEC. 2. The Department of Tourism in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall, within one (1) year from the approval of this Act, prepare a tourism development plan for Volcano Island and the coastal areas of the municipalities of Laurel, Balete, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, and Talisay, which shall provide for the construction, improvement and/or maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructures as shall encourage tourism in the area.

SEC. 3. The Department of Tourism in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall take immediate steps to implement said development plan and shall incorporate the same in the department's overall tourism development programs for the ensuing calendar year.

SEC. 4. Any law which in consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,

(Sgd.) NEPTALI A. GONZALES (Sgd.) RAMON V. MITRA

President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 3, 1992 and January 23, 1992, respectively.

(Sgd.) ANACLETO D. BADOY, JR. (Sgd.) CAMILO L. SABIO

Secretary of the Senate Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: July 11 1992

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS President of the Philippines