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BillSBN-172120th Congress

Filipino Fiestas

In committee Filed Jan 28, 2026
◷ Where it standsIn Committee
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on January 28, 2026, and referred to the Committees on Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and Finance; it has been pending in the committee since then with no recorded action.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

The bill addresses the need to enhance tourism through cultural events.

Local communitiesTouristsSmall business owners
Timeliness
Timely

The bill responds to the need for revitalizing tourism post-pandemic.

Affects you ifTourism operatorsLocal business ownersCultural organizationsFestival attendees
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
4.2/ 10
Long title

Filipino Fiestas

Plain-language summary
✦AI Summary

This bill aims to promote popular Filipino fiestas to enhance tourism and support local businesses by recognizing their cultural significance and providing a framework for their promotion.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresThe Department of Tourism (DOT) shall develop and implement a cultural tourism program.
RequiresLocal Government Units (LGUs) shall assist in organizing and promoting the festivals.
RequiresThe private sector shall be encouraged to invest in these festivals through incentives.
FundsFunding will be sourced from the DOT and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts' share in the annual General Appropriations Act.
DeadlineThe DOT must develop implementing rules and regulations within 60 days from the effectivity of this Act.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

Filipino fiestas are celebrated but lack formal promotion.

This bill

The bill mandates a structured promotion of fiestas to boost tourism.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The bill aims to promote popular Filipino fiestas to enhance tourism and support local businesses by recognizing their cultural significance.

Source · full text
Issue areas
HealthEducationSocial WelfareLocal businessesLocal Government UnitsCultural heritageTourismDepartment of Tourism

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Jan 28, 2026Senate
Introduced by Senator CAMILLE A. VILLAR;
Feb 3, 2026Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committees on TOURISM; CULTURE AND THE ARTS and FINANCE;
✦ AI insight

Stalled: the bill has sat in committee for over 9 months with no action since its referral on February 3, 2026.

Tap a term to decode it
Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
SBN-1721 — verbatim textAs filed

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE Senato Offire of the set ctarp REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JAN 28 A11 :35 SENATE S. No. — 1721 RECEIVED BY Introduced by Senator Camille A. Villar AN ACT PROMOTING POPULAR FILIPINO FIESTAS TO BOOST TOURISM AND LOCAL BUSINESSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The Philippines is known for its vibrant and colorful festivals. These festivals are deeply rooted in our history and traditions and showcase our rich cultural heritage and attract a significant number of local and foreign tourists. These festivals are essential part of our country's cultural heritage. Some of the famous fiestas include the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City, Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan, Sinulog Festival in Cebu, and the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City. However, despite these festivals' popularity, the tourism industry in the country has yet to maximize their potential. There is a need to promote these fiestas to attract more tourists and generate more revenue for the local businesses. Moreover, promoting these festivals can help preserve and promote our country's rich cultural heritage. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. Camiller see CAMILLE A. VILLAR

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE Senale REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) Office of the satiry First Regular Session SENATE JAN 28 A11 :35 S. No. — 1721 RECEIVED B Introduced by Senator Camille A. Villar AN ACT PROMOTING POPULAR FILIPINO FIESTAS TO BOOST TOURISM AND LOCAL BUSINESSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to recognize

and promote the significance of Filipino festivals as an essential part of the country's cultural heritage. The government shall promote these festivals and 4 support the local communities and businesses to maximize their potential as tourist attractions and income-generating activities.

Sec. 2. Definition of Terms -

a.) Filipino Fiestas - refers to colorful and vibrant celebrations of the Philippines' traditional religious, cultural, and historical heritage. b.) Tourism - refers to the activities of visitors who travel to places outside their usual environment for leisure, business, or other purposes. c.) Local Businesses - refers to enterprises owned and run by Filipino citizens that contribute to the country's economic development.

Sec. 3. Policy Measures and Responsibilities -

a.) The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall develop and implement the cultural tourism program, in coordination with the concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The DOT shall be the lead agency in the implementation of this Act.

b.) The pertinent LGUs shall assist in organizing and promoting the festivals. c.) The private sector shall be encouraged to invest in these festivals through incentives.

Sec. 4. Monitoring and Evaluation - There shall be a monitoring and

6 evaluation system to annually assess the program's impact on tourism and local businesses. The monitoring and evaluation system shall be formulated by the 8 DOT in coordination with the NCCA and the concerned LGUs.

Sec. 5. Funding. - The necessary funding for the implementation of this

10 Act shall be sourced from the DOT and the NCCA's share in the annual General 11 Appropriations Act (GAA).

Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOT, in coordination

with the NCCA and relevant stakeholders, shall develop the implementing rules and regulations, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - Any portion of this Act that may be

declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other provisions hereof as long as such remaining provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive

orders, memoranda, circulars, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.