Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 1383

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE MIKAELA ANGELA B. SUANSING

AN ACT
DECLARING THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONS OF THE IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH, SANCTUARY OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS,
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF NAMPICUAN, PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECIJA, A
TOURIST DESTINATION, PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Immaculate Conception Parish Church and the Municipality of Nampicuan, Nueva
Ecija have been bestowed a great blessing when the Holy Face of Manoppello ~ the veil “no
human hands have made” and believed to miraculously near an imprint of Christ’s face! - was
formally enshrined in said church on September 15, 2014.

Radyo Veritas reported that Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, Rector of the Shrine and Basilica of
the Holy Face of Manoppello in Italy, has chosen the Immaculate Conception Parish Church
to be the center of devotion of the Holy Face of Manoppelio in the country.?

‘The Holy Face has been housed for the last 500 years in the Capuchin Convent’ in
Abruzzo, Pescara. Pope Benedict XVI's visits in the Shrine in the early days of his Papacy
have drawn thousands of pilgrims to the small community. These Papal visits called
unprecedented attention to the Veil’s major significance in the history of Jesus Christ’s life on
earth.

+ Manoppelio veil enshrined in Nueva Ecija Town by Raymund A. Sebast
(www cbcpnews.com)

? Holy Face of Jesus of Manoppello, pormal na iniluklok sa Immaculate Conception Parish, Nampicuan, Nueva
Beija by Arnel Pelacio, September 17, 2014 (www.veritsas846,ph)

3 Manila awaits the Holy Face of Jesus from Manoppello, Italy by Matey Alberto, September 4-10, 2014, Las
Vegas Asian Journal (www.asianjournal.com)

. September 22, 2014


Since the enthronement of the Holy Face of Manoppello at the Immaculate Conception
Parish Church in Nampicuan, thousands of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists have flocked to the
town.

This bill aims to declare the immediate environs of the Immaculate Conception Parish
Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, in the Municipality of Nampicuan, Province of
Nueva Ecija, as a tourist destination.

The bill mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of
Tourism, and other concerned agencies of the government, to prepare a tourism development
plan that shall improve the overall features of the environs surrounding the Immaculate
Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, ensuring its accessibility and
the security of the tourists while at the same time making sure that the preservation and
conservation of the tourism significance of the area is observed.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

* This bill was originally filed by Rep. Estrellita B. Suansing during the 18" Congress and was approved on Third
and Final Reading.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1383

House Bill No.

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE MIKAELA ANGELA B. SUANSING

AN ACT
DECLARING THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONS OF THE IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH, SANCTUARY OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS,
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF NAMPICUAN, PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECIJA, A
TOURIST DESTINATION, PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. The immediate environs of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church,
Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, in the Municipality of Nampicuan, Province of Nueva
Ecija, is hereby declared a tourist destination. The development of the immediate environs of
the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, shall be
prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned agencies, subject to the
rules and regulations governing the development to tourist destinations.

SEC. 2. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in coordination with the
Department of Public Works and Highways and other concemed agencies of the government,
shall prepare a tourism development plan that shall include the construction, installation and
maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure that shall improve the overall
features of the environs surrounding the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary of
the Holy Face of Jesus, thereby ensuring its accessibility and the security of tourists: Provided,
That said development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of the tourism
significance of the area

SEC. 3. The DOT and its concerned attached agencies shall take immediate steps to implement
the tourism development plan for the immediate environs of the Immaculate Conception Parish
Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, and shall incorporate the same in its tourism
development program for the calendar year immediately succeeding the approval of this Act.


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SEC. 4. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Department’s program the
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act, and shall augment such allocation with internally generated funds of the
Department.

SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOT shall, in consultation
with the municipal government of Nampicuan, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
for the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Alll laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, presidential decrees or other issuances
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or amended

accordingly.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,