1 
 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
 
) 
 
SENATE 
S.B. No.   _______ 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS 
 
 
AN ACT DECLARING BURNHAM PARK LOCATED IN THE CITY OF BAGUIO A 
NATIONAL HERITAGE PARK AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
FOR ITS CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
Section 15 of Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that “Arts 
and letters shall enjoy the patronage of the State. The State shall conserve, promote, 
and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as 
artistic creations.” 
Section 16 of the same article further provides that “All the country's artistic and 
historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasure of the nation and shall be under the 
protection of the State which may regulate its disposition.” 
The Burnham Park Reservation is located in downtown Baguio and was named 
after American architect Daniel Hudson Burnham who designed it in early 1900s. 
Spanning a total of 32.84 hectares, the park features a small pond or lagoon situated 
at the center of the green space and has regimented rows of grass and sidewalk. 
According to the Baguio Heritage Foundation in 2014, the open field often used for 
football and the Melvin Jones Grandstand remains to be conservative to the original 
design of the park. 
According to an article by Primer Media, the most prominent feature of Burnham 
Park is the man-made lake called Burnham Lagoon, where colorful rowboats with 
various designs can be rented. Near the lake, another famous activity for families and 
children is biking where chopper bikes (two-seater) and go-karts can be rented. Other 
recreational areas at Burnham Park include a soccer field, a skating rink, a rose garden, 
an orchidarium, a children’s playground, a picnic grove, and so much more. 
In addition to the different parts of the park, the abundance of flowers and plants 
are also considered attractions to tourists. In 2009, the University of the Philippines 
Baguio published a journal which identified and recorded a total of 3,004 individual 
species of the park’s flora. Moreover, according to the Baguio City Environment and 
March 24 2021
10:20 am
2114


 
 
 
2 
 
 
Parks Management Office's 2015 inventory, a total of 2,600 trees were found within 
the location of the park. 
The location of Burnham Park in downtown Baguio also makes it tourist-friendly 
because of its accessibility to hotels, restaurants, museums, schools, banks, the city 
public market, and even Session Road. Transportation such as jeepneys and taxis are 
also available to and from the vicinity of the park. The cold weather also makes it easy 
for people to just walk around. 
The foregoing are only few of the numerous reasons why the Department of 
Tourism (DOT) shifted its focus on major restoration of Baguio City in February 2020 
after the rehabilitation of Boracay Island and Manila Bay. DOT Secretary Bernadette 
Romulo Puyat announced the PhP 480 million budget for Burnham Park through its 
investment arm Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), as part 
of their agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). 
Truly, the breathtaking beauty of the Burnham Park is not just a display of its 
architectural design and landscape but an evidence of the rich culture and heritage of 
Baguio City. It envisions the entwined legacy of the past and the promising future that 
lies in the park that must be protected and enriched not just to be savored by Filipinos 
but by the whole world. 
This bill seeks to conserve and further develop the immeasurable value of such 
a national heritage for the benefit of the future generations by declaring Burnham Park 
in Baguio City a national heritage park. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
IMEE R. MARCOS  
 
 
 


 
 
 
1 
 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
 
) 
 
SENATE 
S.B. No.   _______ 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS 
 
 
AN ACT DECLARING BURNHAM PARK LOCATED IN THE CITY OF BAGUIO A 
NATIONAL HERITAGE PARK AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
FOR ITS CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT 
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
1 
to protect, preserve, and conserve the nation’s cultural heritage, its properties and 
2 
history, and the ethnicities of local communities.  
3 
SEC. 2. A National Heritage Park. – The Burnham Park, located in the City of 
4 
Baguio, is hereby declared a national heritage park. As such, its development shall be 
5 
prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Tourism Infrastructure and 
6 
Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), in coordination with the National Historical 
7 
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the City Government of Baguio, and shall 
8 
be subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of national heritage 
9 
parks.  
10 
SEC. 3. Development Plan. – Within six (6) months after the approval of this Act, 
11 
the DOT, TIEZA, NHCP and the City Government of Baguio shall prepare the 
12 
development plan involving the conservation and/or maintenance of the appropriate 
13 
facilities which shall enhance the identified areas: Provided, That said development 
14 
shall ensure the preservation of the cultural heritage and the historical significance of 
15 
the identified areas.  
16 
SEC. 4. Appropriations. – The Secretary of the DOT, the Chairperson of NHCP, 
17 
and the Chief Operating Officer of the TIEZA shall include in their respective programs 
18 
the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual 
19 
General Appropriations Act and from internally generated funds of the DOT.  
20 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days after the 
21 
effectivity of this Act, the DOT, TIEZA, NHCP and the City Government of Baguio shall 
22 
formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this 
23 
Act. 
24 
March 24 2021
10:20 am
2114


 
 
 
2 
 
 
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, letters of 
1 
implementation, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision 
2 
of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, superseded or amended accordingly.  
3 
SEC. 7. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
4 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
5 
Approved,