CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H. No. 8038 BY REPRESENTATIVES PLAZA, BASCUG, MADRONA, CHAN, SALVAME, ANGARA, ALVAREZ (J.), KHO (E.), TUAN, MIRAPLORES, HORIBATA, YAP (J.G.), AGYAO, ALANO, DALOG, MOMO, SINGSON (R.V.), CALDERON, INARES, CORVERA, REGENCIA, CASTRO, GONZALES (A.M.), TUPAS, PLEYTO, BANCORO, RODRIGUEZ (S.), BELTRAN, DAZA, DEL MAR, GUINTU, BARBA, CAGAS, CAYTON, COLLANTES, ROMAN, ROQUE, UMALI AND SUAN AN ACT DECLARING THE PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL SUR AS THE HOME OF THE GOLDEN TARA Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. It is the policy of the State to preserve the country's cultural artifacts and
2 promote its rich history and cultural beritage. In line with this policy, the Province of Agusan del Sur, being the site where the Golden 4 Tara, a 21-karat gold statuette of a female Hindu deity that dates back to the 9th-10* centuries 5 was found in 1917 on the banks of the Wawa River in the Municipality of Esperanza, shall be 6 acknowledged for its significant contribution to the nation's pre-colonial history and cultural 7 identity. Presently on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, United States of America, it is considered a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Province of Agusan del Sur and its commercial and cultural ties with Southeast Asian states before the Spanish colonial period
SEC. 2. The Department of Tourism shall feature the Golden Tara and the rich cultural
heritage of the Province of Agusan del Sur in its national and regional promotion programs.
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
4 Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,