Sta. Ana Heritage Zone Act

Sellate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG 27 A9:16 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1252 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT DECLARING STA. ANA DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF MANILA A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ZONE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The 1987 Philippine Constitution enshrines the duty of the State to preserve and promote the nation's cultural heritage. Article XIV, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution declares: "The State shall conserve, promote, and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations." The Sta. Ana district in Manila traces its roots to a pre-colonial settlement and holds generations' worth of physical and cultural heritage that continue to endure today. It was the site of the old Kingdom of Namayan, which once ruled over areas now known as Mandalyong, Makati, Pasay, and the Manila districts of Pandacan and Paco. Before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, Sta. Ana was already a center of civilization, culture, and commerce. 1 During Spanish colonization, Sta. Ana emerged as the first Franciscan mission site established beyond Intramuros. Over time, it flourished as a riverside district, attracting Manila's elite who constructed elegant ancestral homes along the Pasig River. The cool breeze and ease of river travel made the area a vibrant residential and 1 Estacio, D., Sarmiento, A., Arizabal, M. D., & Viloria-Libiran, C. (2021). Resurfacing the spirit of the place: An urban design study of historic Santa Ana streetscapes. International Journal of Scientific Research & Growth, Retrieved August 18, 2025, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354857890 Resurfacing the Spirit of the Place An Urba n Design Study of Historic Santa Ana Streetscapes;

trading hub, with small boats (cascos) ferrying goods and people to and from Laguna de Bay.2 Today, Sta. Ana still bears the physical and cultural marks of this deep history, from its 18th-century Sta. Ana Church to its old street patterns, open spaces, heritage houses, civic buildings, and oral traditions. In recognition of this significance, Manila City Ordinance No. 8244 in 2011 classified Sta. Ana as a Histo-Cultural Heritage Overlay Zone, and in 2014 the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) issued a resolution declaring a portion of the district a heritage zone. Despite these protective measures, Sta. Ana's heritage is in peril. The construction of condominiums and other modern buildings, despite zoning protections, illustrates the vulnerability of this historical district to unchecked development. Important cultural properties such as the Sta. Cruz Building remain at risk of degradation or erasure. This bill is filed in response to the growing appeals from residents, historians, and conservationists to strengthen protection over Sta. Ana's heritage. It seeks to establish a clear legal and institutional framework for the preservation, restoration, and sustainable management of the Sta. Ana Heritage Zone. With this measure, we aim to safeguard not only the physical structures, but also the stories, practices, and identity of one of Manila's most important historical districts, before they are lost to time and neglect. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. LOREN LEGARDA 2 Same as Note 1;

Senate fice of the Siantary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 AUG 27 A9:16 SENATE S. No. 1252 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT DECLARING STA. ANA DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF MANILA A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ZONE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Sta. Ana Heritage Zone

2 Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the State's policy to support the

4 preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of the Filipino national cuiture, which 5 is based on the idea of diversity within unity. The State likewise values the 6 conservation, promotion, and popularization of the nation's historical and cultural 7 heritage, resources, and artistic creations. Towards this end, the State shall institute 8 historical-cultural heritage zones that promote, maintain, and enhance the richness, 9 quality, and remarkable culture of the Philippines.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be

defined as follows: (a) "Cultural heritage" shall refer to the totality of cultural property preserved and developed through time and passed on to posterity; (b) "Cultural property" shall refer to all products of human creativity by which a people and a nation reveal their identity, including churches, mosques and other places of religious worship, schools and natural

history specimens and sites, whether public or privately-owned, movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible; (c) "Heritage zone" shall refer to historical, anthropological, archaeological, artistic geographical areas and settings that are culturally significant to the country, as declared by the National Museum and/or the NHCP; (d) "Historical landmarks" shall refer to sites or structures that are associated with events or achievements significant to Philippine history as declared by NHCP; (e) "Historical monuments" shall refer to structures that honor illustrious persons or commemorate events of historical value as declared by the NHCP; (f) "Historical shrines" shall refer to historical sites or structures hallowed and revered for their history or association as declared by the NHCP; (g) "Historical street name" shall refer to a street name which has been in existence for at least fifty (50) years and over time has been considered historic; (h) "Important cultural property" shall refer to a cultural property having exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significance to the Philippines, as shall be determined by the National Museum and/or NHCP.

Sec. 4. Scope. - This Act shall be applicable to the following, such as but not

entirely limited to: (a) Historical shrines; (b) Historical monuments; (c) Historical landmarks; (d) Historical structures; (e) Historical street names; (f) Important cultural properties; (g) Structures dating at least fifty (50) years old; and (h) Documents or other works dating at least fifty (50) years old found in the area.

Sec. 5. Sta. Ana National Historical and Cultural Heritage Zone. - The Sta. Ana

2 District in the City of Manila is hereby declared a heritage zone as defined in Section 3 3(c) of this Act. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, the local government unit (LGU) concerned is directed to coordinate with the appropriate government 6 agencies in the preservation and maintenance of heritage zones, protection of the 7 appearance of streets, parks, monuments, buildings, and natural bodies of water, 8 canals, paths, and barangays within the bounds of the heritage zone. The LGU concerned shall coordinate with the appropriate government agencies, 10 such as but not limited to: (a) National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); (b) National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP); (c) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); (d) Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD); and (e) Department of Tourism (DOT).

Sec. 6. Sta. Ana Histo-Cultural Committee. - The Sta. Ana Histo-Cultural

Committee shall be composed of the following members: (a) Mayor of the Manila as Chairman; (b) Vice-Mayor of the Manila as Co-Chairman; (c) Representative from the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission as Member; (d) Representative from the Sta. Ana Heritage Tourism Association as Member; (e) Representative from the NCCA as Member; (f) Representative from the NHCP as Member; (g) Representative from the DPWH as Member; (h) Representative from the DHSUD as Member; (i) Representative from the DOT as Member; (j) Representative from the National Museum of the Philippines as Member;

(k) Representative from the Manila City Planning and Development Office as Member; (I) Representative of the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Arts of Manila (DTCAM) as Member; and (m) City Engineer of Manila as Member. Committee members may designate their duly authorized representative who 7 shall have a rank not lower than an Assistant Secretary or its equivalent, as applicable. 8 These representatives shall attend Committee meetings on their behalf and shall receive emoluments as may be determined by the Committee in accordance with 10 existing budget and accounting rules and regulations. The Committee shall be organized within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, and convene its first meeting within thirty (30) days from its organization."

Sec. 7. Powers and Functions of the Sta. Ana Histo-Cultural Committee.- The

Committee shall have the following powers and functions: (a) Safeguard Sta. Ana's historic and cultural heritage, as embodied and reflected in such historic areas, places, buildings and structures, and by appropriate regulations; (b) Promote economic stability and prosperity of the community by encouraging the most appropriate use of such significant property in Sta. Ana; (c) Protect and enhance Sta. Ana's attractions to tourists and visitors as well as provide support and stimulus to business and industry; (d) Promote the education and patriotic heritage of present and future residents of the City; (e) Balance the rights of the public which justify the preservation of Sta. Ana's history and culture, with those of property owners who own and control property and are entitled to reasonable use and return of their assets; (f) Guided by the legal mandates of the agencies concerned, direct appropriate national government agencies and concerned LGUs to implement policies and programs in furtherance of this Act;

(g) Coordinate with various sectors and agencies to ensure coherent strategic direction and programs; (h) In coordination with the concerned LGU, plan, formulate, coordinate, execute policies and implement programs, projects, and activities of the government affecting or relating to Sta. Ana; (i) Enter into contractual arrangements with any private persons or entity/ies or any government agency/ies, either domestic or foreign, whenever necessary for the effective discharge of its functions and responsibilities under such terms and conditions as it may deem proper and reasonable under existing laws; (i) Acquire through sale, expropriation in accordance with existing laws, or other means, hold real and personal property as it may deem necessary or convenient in the successful prosecution of its work, and lease, mortgage, sell, alienate, or otherwise dispose of such personal and real property in accordance with existing laws; (k) Receive, take and hold by settlement, grant, device, donation, gift, purchase or lease, from foreign or domestic sources, either absolutely or in trust for any of its purposes, any asset, grant or property, real or personal, subject to such limitations as are provided in existing laws and regulations; to convey such assets, grant or property; invest and reinvest the same and deal with and expand its assets and income in such manner as will best promote its objectives; (1) Regularly monitor and observe the maintenance of the heritage zone; (m) Conduct research necessary to: (1) help maintain the heritage zone; (2) identify and distinguish cultural properties; and (3) assess the effectiveness of policies and programs designed for the preservation of the heritage zone; (n) Perform other functions as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act. The Committee shall endeavor to use integrated, community-centered, participatory, responsive, and sustainable principles in the development,

1 implementation, and assessment of policies and programs to benefit the heritage 2 zone.

Sec. 8. Sta. Ana Heritage Zone Development Plan. - Aside from the above-

4 mentioned powers and functions of the Committee, the Committee must draft an extensive Sta. Ana Heritage Zone Development Plan, taking into account the policies 6 and programs for the heritage zone. All parties interested in the protection, 7 preservation, conservation, restoration, and promotion of the city's cuitural heritage must participate in the plan's creation. Through the holding of open hearings and 9 drafting sessions where their input will be solicited, the participation of important 10 organizations and individual parties shall be assured. The Development Plan shall include the following details, such as but not limited to: (a) Structural development and activities to be allowed to operate in Sta. Ana which shall be limited to those that are consistent and compatible with the historical character of the area and shall furthermore not be the source of air, noise, water, or other types of pollution; (b) Archaeological Impact Assessment mitigating the development impact on important archaeological sites; (c) Architectural design and character, height restrictions, and building modifications to conform to the design and standards to be adopted in the designated Histo-Cultural Zone. The preparation of the plan shall be in coordination with the NCCA and its affiliated cultural agencies, NHCP, DPWH, DHSUD, and the DOT, and other concerned agencies. Further details of the plan shall be in accordance with research conducted on the heritage zone and such shall be incorporated into the plan to benefit the preservation of the heritage zone.

Sec. 9. Cultural Mapping. - In line with Republic Act No. 11961, the City of

Manila shall conduct a comprehensive cultural mapping project within the boundaries 29 of the proposed Sta. Ana Heritage Zone to identify historic sites and structures to be preserved. The result of the cultural mapping would be the basis of decision-making on the district's preservation and development.

Sec. 10. Annual Report. - The Committee shall submit comprehensive annual

2 reports to the Congress of the Philippines, which shall include its assessment of the policies, programs, and services, and the status of its implementation, including, but 4 not limited to, progress reports, challenges, recommendations, review of the policies involved, research and data, accomplishments, effects on the stakeholders, and other 6 reports integral to the implementation of this Act.

Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Committee, through its

8 Chairperson, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within one hundred and twenty (120) days from its 10 approval. The Committee, in consultation with LGUs, appropriate government agencies, non-government organizations, people's organizations, and other key stakeholders, shall lead the preparation of the implementing rules and regulations. The rules and regulations issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to carry out the initial

implementation of this Act shall be charged against the respective budget of the concerned agencies for the current year. Subsequently, such amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - In case any part, section, or provision of this Act

shall be held invalid or unconstitutional by a court with jurisdiction, no other part, section, or provision thereof shall be affected thereby.

Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations, issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication either in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,