Quiapo Heritage Zone Act

Senate Office of the dancip TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 AUG -4 P1:38 SENATE RECEVED 0: S. No._ Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT DECLARING QUIAPO DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF MANILA A NATIONAL HERITAGE ZONE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Quiapo is one of the oldest and most culturally significant districts in the City of Manila. It is home to iconic landmarks such as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, San Sebastian Basilica, Plaza Miranda, and various ancestral houses, mosques, and heritage streetscapes. As a historical crossroads of Filipino, Chinese, Spanish, and Muslim cultures, Quiapo embodies the pluralistic roots of the Filipino identity. It has long served as a center of religious devotion, artisanal trade, intellectual activity, and civic expression. Despite its historical and architectural richness, the district faces increasing pressure from rapid urbanization, neglect, and inadequate heritage protection. Several heritage buildings and cultural spaces are at risk of irreversible deterioration, while local communities struggle to benefit from inclusive and sustainable development. This bill declares the Quiapo District a National Heritage Zone to provide it with the necessary policy framework, institutional coordination, and resource support for its conservation and revitalization. It aligns with the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (RA No. 10066) and seeks to mainstream heritage protection into local development planning.

The measure mandates the creation of a Quiapo Heritage Zone Development Plan, which shall guide the preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of the district's historic sites and structures. It also supports infrastructure improvements, cultural research, environmental management, and stakeholder engagement to ensure that development efforts honor the district's unique character. By safeguarding Quiapo's tangible and intangible heritage, this bill supports cultural tourism, creative livelihoods, urban resilience, and national pride, ensuring that present and future generations can continue to draw meaning and inspiration from this living cultural landscape. In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought. LOREN LEGARDA

SeRnie Office of the a map TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 AUG -4 P1:38 SENATE RECENED S S. No. 821 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT DECLARING QUIAPO DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF MANILA A NATIONAL 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 "Quiapo Heritage Zone

2 Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to undertake

initiatives that will protect, preserve, conserve, and promote the nation's historical 5 and cultural heritage, property, and artistic creations.

Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all cultural properties ranging from

7 cultural treasures, important cultural properties, heritage sites, historical shrines, historical monuments, historical landmarks, archaeological and traditional 9 ethnographic materials, works of national heroes, marked structures, and structures and archival materials dating at least fifty (50) years old within the Quiapo District located in the City of Manila.

Sec. 4. Quiapo Heritage Zone. - The Quiapo District in the City of Manila is

hereby declared a heritage zone as defined in Article II, Section 3(q) and Article III, Sections 4 and 5 of Republic Act No. 10066 as amended, otherwise known as the "National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009." As such, it shall be accorded priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT), in coordination with the Local Government of the City of Manila, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts

1 (NCCA), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Tourism 2 Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Department of Public 3 Works and Highways (DPWH), and other concerned government agencies, and shall 4 be subject to the rules and regulations governing the conservation and preservation 5 of heritage zones following internationally accepted standards. For the purpose of this Act, the built heritage sites in the historical and 7 cultural heritage zone shall include but not be limited to the following: a. Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene b. Minor Basilica of San Sebastian c. Masjid Al-Dahab d. Plaza del Carmen e. Plaza Miranda f. Quinta Market g. Nakpil-Bautista House h. Paterno House i. Zamora House j. Estrella House k. Genato House I. Zaragoza House m. Casa Consulado n. Ocampo-Santiago House o. Ocampo Pagoda Mansion p. Padilla Art Gallery q. Casa Boix r. La Estricista Site s. Calle Hidalgo t. Calle Argelui u. Calle Bautista v. Calle Bilibid Viejo w. Calle de Guzman x. Globo de Oro Street

Sec. 5. Quiapo Heritage Zone Development Plan. - The City Government of

2 Manila, in coordination with DOT, TIEZA, NCCA, NHCP, DPWH, and other concerned 3 agencies, shall, within one year after the approval of this Act, prepare the 4 development plan involving the protection, preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, 5 conservation, maintenance, and promotion of the city's cultural heritage and of 6 appropriate facilities which shall enhance the area: Provided, that the said 7 development shall ensure the preservation of the cultural heritage and the historical 8 significance of the identified area. Relevant organizations and individual participants shall be consulted in public 10 hearings and drafting sessions. Research shall be conducted on the heritage sites' architectural, artistic, social, political, and personal histories and shall be incorporated into the plan in order to assist the concerned government agencies and stakeholders with the process of adaptive reuse, the creation of manuals, and the identification of additional suitable business ventures that can be supported in the district.

Sec. 6. Coordination with National Agencies and Local Government Units. -

The City Government of Manila, in coordination with DOT, TIEZA, and DPWH, shall set forth and implement necessary construction and/or improvement of roads and 19 other infrastructure upon promulgation of this Act and incorporate it in its infrastructure program. This shall include infrastructure and systems that will 21 enhance the overall aesthetic of the district including drainage, sewerage and solid 22 waste facilities in accordance with prevailing environmental laws and incentives.

Sec. 7. Report and Review. - Within the year of the implementation of this

Act and each fiscal year thereafter, the City Government of Manila shall render an annual report to both Houses of Congress. The City Government of Manila shall submit a report describing a summary of the following: a. Status of the Quiapo National Heritage Zone under this Act b. Accomplishments of the Quiapo Heritage Zone Development Plan established through this Act c. Types and volume of assistance and services provided to stakeholders within the Quiapo National Heritage Zone d. Environmental baselines, targets, and enhancements

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Local Government of the

2 City of Manila, DOT, NCCA, NHCP, TIEZA, and DPWH, in consultation with 3 stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper 4 implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity. The City Council of the City Government of Manila shall pass a city ordinance 6 to appropriately operationalize the management of the Quiapo National Heritage 7 Zone, including all parts of the heritage site, national cultural treasures, important 8 cultural property, and archaeological and anthropological sites designated as intrinsic 9 thereto, in accordance with the development plan, and in line with the objectives 10 and provisions of Republic Act No. 10066 and this Act. The ordinance shall likewise include the metes and bounds of the Heritage Zone established pursuant to this Act.

Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the protection,

preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, conservation, maintenance, and promotion of the cultural and historical integrity of the Quiapo Heritage Zone shall receive priority development attention, assistance, and funding from the DOT, the NCCA, and from the DPWH, subject to existing appropriate government rules and regulations.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act

shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the remaining provisions thereby shall remain valid and in full force and effect.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances,

rules and regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, suspended, or amended accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general 26 circulation, whichever comes earlier. Approved,