“Ang aking panukalang batas na House Bill 7259 o ang Tala Ecotourism Zone Act ay aprubado na sa third reading and it’s off to the Senate.”
This was Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine B. Roman’s recent announcement via her Facebook Fan Page.
“Ang Brgy. Tala ay nakapaloob sa Bataan National Park, ang natitirang closed canopy dipterocarp forest in Central Luzon. It is home to spectacular wildlife including wild boars, giant fruit bats, civet cats, and pygmy woodpeckers. Sa mga libis at bangin naman nito makikita ang maraming puno ng langka, lanzones, niyog, guyabano, rambutan, kape, at marami pang iba. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mahalagang maging Ecotourism Zone ang Brgy. Tala–mapaglaanan ng pondo mula sa pamahalaan para sa higit na environmental protection and ecologically sustainable na tourismo,” Congresswoman Roman said as she described the majestic place.
Roman’s HB 7259 seeks to declare Barangay Tala in the Municipality of Orani in the Province of Bataan as an ecotourism zone.
The said village is part of the Bataan National Park, one of the most sought-after destinations in Bataan known for its serene and natural beauty and unique terrain.
The place is also famous because of the presence of several farm resorts and retreat parks such as the Vista Tala, Little Baguio and the 50 hectare Sinagtala Farm Resort and Retreat Park owned by a corporation headed by former Bataan lawmaker, Felicito C. Payumo.
Tala is also known for its coffee beans plantation along the mountain sides mostly Robusta while varieties of Excelea, Barako and Arabica can also be found and harvested here.
“The declaration of Barangay Tala as a local ecotourism zone will definitely enhance its continued tourism viability and could easily be developed into a first-class ecotourism zone if it is equipped with amenities and facilities complementing its full potential as a tourism venue,” Roman said.
Just like any other potential tourism site, she further added, the lack of allied infrastructure and facilities such as hotels, lodges, camps, potable water supply and public transportation hinder the socio-economic and environmental development of the area.
She also said that it is the policy of the State to accord priority status to sustainable, vibrant and profitable tourism development as one of the engines of socio-economic growth and cultural affirmation to generate investment, foreign exchange and employment. (