Lopez boosts tourism drive with approval of Danlagan land conversion

By Rowena T. Cruz Lopez council tackles proposed tourism zoning and other development measures during the 49th Regular Session of the Sanggu...

By Rowena T. Cruz

Lopez council tackles proposed tourism zoning and other development measures during the 49th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Bayan. (Lopez LGU)

LOPEZ, Quezon — Lopez moved to strengthen its tourism sector after the Sangguniang Bayan approved on first reading an ordinance reclassifying a municipally owned agricultural property in Barangay Danlagan into a tourism zone. Municipal officials described the ordinance as part of a broader strategy to expand tourism, attract investment and create new economic opportunities through planned land development.

The ordinance reclassifies a 4,120-square-meter parcel owned by the Municipal Government of Lopez from agricultural land to a tourism zone and establishes the property's legal classification for tourism use. During the 49th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Bayan on July 15, councilors approved the measure after Mayor Isaias Ubana II certified it as urgent and the Committee on Environment and Land Use endorsed it for first reading.



The session did not identify a specific tourism project for the property, although the reclassification would allow the municipality to pursue tourism-related development consistent with its land-use plans. The proposed zoning change establishes the legal framework for future tourism investments on the municipally owned site.

Councilor Efren V. Paraiso, chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Land Use, sponsored the ordinance and explained why the proposal received priority consideration during the session. He said the mayor's certification of urgency allowed the council to immediately act on the proposed land reclassification.

"Certified as urgent ng ating local executive ang panukalang ordinansa sa muling pag-uuri ng lupang pag-aari ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng Lopez na matatagpuan sa Barangay Danlagan mula agricultural land tungo sa tourism zone," Paraiso said.

Paraiso also explained that land reclassification proposals must undergo a structured review before they receive final legislative approval. He said the municipality's existing ordinance requires public consultation to ensure affected residents and barangay officials have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.

"Matapos po ang pagtanggap ng aplikasyon at matapos matukoy ng Lupon ng Environment and Land Use ang mga kinakailangang dokumento, pagkatapos ng unang pagbasa ay itutukoy ito sa Committee on Laws, Rules, Ethics and Privileges upang magsagawa ng pampublikong pagdinig para sa nasabing kahilingan," Paraiso said, citing the municipality's land reclassification ordinance.

Municipal officials also created the Municipal Tourism Council through Executive Order No. 62 to coordinate tourism policies, programs and development initiatives. Together with the Danlagan land conversion, the action reflects the municipality's effort to align land-use planning with long-term tourism development and investment promotion.