TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) AUG -6 A10:52 SENATE RECEN ED B: 101'7 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT DECLARING THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONS OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE BACLARAN CHURCH, LOCATED ALONG ROXAS BOULEVARD, PARAÑAQUE CITY, A HERITAGE SITE AND TOURIST DESTINATION EXPLANATORY NOTE The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is a prominent landmark and an iconic religious site located along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City that is visited by thousands of pilgrims and devotees every week, the author included. Wednesdays are acknowledged as "Baclaran Day" by many Filipino Catholic families, that are also associated with heavy foot and vehicle traffic. As much as 150,00 devotees from all walks of life flock to the shrine to offer novena and profess their unfailing faith to the Blessed Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help. It is also considered as one of the largest Marian churches in the country. St. John Paul II was able to bless the National Shrine with his presence on two memorable occasions - on February 17, 1981 when he was Pope and addressed the Women Religious of the Philippines, and on February 1973, as Kraków Archbishop Karol Jozef Cardinal Wotyla when he celebrated the Holy Eucharist during his brief stopover in Manila.
The Modern Romanesque architecture designed by Cesar Concio and his associate Jesse Bontoc, its distinctive golden hue that matches the background of the Icon, and its ceiling which resembles two hands in prayer, all contribute to a spiritual ambiance which earned its signature as a "Shrine that Prays with the People". Undeniably, the Redemptorist Church, as the National Shrine is also called, is one of the most popular churches in the Philippines, which attracts and gathers a multitude of devotees as well as tourists. Through the years, it has become deeply embedded in the spiritual life and an important part of the rich tradition of Catholic Filipinos, especially those in the National Capital Region and the neighboring localities. It is therefore important that we institutionalize a policy which will preserve the historical and sociocultural significance of the church, and ensure the accessibility, convenience and security of its countless visitors through the construction, installation and maintenance of appropriate facilities and infrastructure in its immediate surroundings. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is fervently sought. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
for oft TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUG -6 AIO :52 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVES 8: S. No. _ 1017 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT DECLARING THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONS OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE BACLARAN CHURCH, LOCATED ALONG ROXAS BOULEVARD, PARAÑAQUE CITY, A HERITAGE SITE AND TOURIST DESTINATION Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help as Heritage Site
2 and Tourist Destination. - The immediate environs of the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, popularly known as the Baclaran Church located along 4 Roxas Boulevard, Parañaque City, is hereby declared a heritage site and tourist 5 destination. As such, the development of the immediate environs of the Baclaran 6 Church shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), in coordination with 7 the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the local government of 8 Parañaque and other concerned agencies, subject to the rules and regulations 9 governing the development of heritage sites and tourist destinations.
Sec. 2. Tourism Development Plan. - Within one (1) year after the approval of
this Act, the local government of Parañaque City shall, in coordination with the DOT, NHCP, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and concerned agencies of the government, prepare a tourism development plan that shall include the construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure to improve the overall features of the immediate environs surrounding the Baclaran Church, thereby ensuring its accessibility and the security of tourists:
1 Provided, That said development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation 2 of the historical significance of the Baclaran Church: Provided, further, That the 3 implementation of the tourism development plan shall be included in the budget of the local government of Parañaque City.
Sec. 3. Implementation of the Tourism Development Plan. - The DOT shall
6 assist the local government of Parañaque City in the implementation of the tourism 7 development plan by providing technical assistance in tourism capacity building. It shall also include the immediate environs of the Baclaran Church in all its national and 9 regional promotion programs.
Sec. 4. Funding. - The funding for the implementation of this Act shall be
11 included in the annual budget of the local government of Parañaque City. The DOT 12 may augment such allocation with internally-generated funds.
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the local government of Parañaque City shall, in consultation with the DOT and concerned agencies of the government, promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Act.
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,