Section 33Sec./Art. 33

National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and the National Ecotourism Policy. - The Department, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), shall identify areas covered by the NIPAS with ecotourism potentials and cultural heritage value, and prepare policies, plans and programs for their development, preservation, operation or conversion into TEZs. The designation of these areas as TEZs shall be subject to the provisions of Subchapter IV - A of this Act.

The ecotourism sites in the National Ecotourism Strategy pursuant to Executive Order No. 111 (1999) may also be developed into TEZs with the National Ecotourism Steering Committee responsible for finding the appropriate TEZ operator for the sites.