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HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES
_ RECENT

DATE. 9 "
30 iin 2046.
Republic of the Philippines

TIME: 220 ~
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY: fia

Quezon City Z
REGISTRATION \.>
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BILLS AND INDE x SERVIC
First Regular Session et

213

House Bill No.

Introduced by:
REP. FRANCISCO JOSE F. MATUGAS II
15’ District, Surigao del Norte (Siargao Island)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Surigao was first established as a province in Mindanao and was
named Surigao Province on 15 May 1901 by virtue of Act 127 entitled
“An Act Extending the Provisions of the Provincial Government Act to
the Province of Surigao". Section 5 of the said Act explicitly states that
xxx “the Capital of the Province shall be at the town of Surigao” x x x
which refers to the present City of Surigao, the capital of the present
Province of Surigao del Norte.

On 19 June 1960, Surigao Province was divided into the two provinces
of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur by virtue of Republic Act
2786. On 22 May 1992, Republic Act No. 7553 was approved
declaring June 19 of every year as a special non-working holiday in
the Province of Surigao Del Norte to be known as “Adiaw Nan
Surigao del Norte”.

While Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur were created only in
1960, it is worth noting and remembering that there was already a
Province of Surigao before said date whose capital was situated in
the Province of Surigao del Norte. Therefore, in celebrating the birth
of the Province of Surigao, it is not historically accurate to begin
counting on the day the Province was divided into the two provinces
of Surigao del Norte and Sur. The Surigaonons should have a sense of
heritage and culture in knowing that there has been a Province of
Surigao 112 years ago and that they are a people with a proud
history and glorious past. Thus, the need to repeal RA 7553.

The Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines (NHCP], Maria Serena |. Diokno, when asked for comment
regarding the proposal to repeal RA 7553, said:


In 1860, the present Surigao del Norte was part of the East district, one
politico-military districts in Mindanao, which around 1870 became
known as the District of Surigao. The district was converted into the
Province of Surigao through Act 127 in 1901. The provinces of Surigao de!
Norte and Sur were created out of the old Surigao Province by virtue of
R.A. 2786 dated June 19, 1960.

Celebrating 19 June 1960 as the foundation day of Surigao del Norte
simply refers to its formal establishment as a province, and not fo its
existence for hundreds of years.'

The current version of this bill was already approved on third reading
during the 16 Congress. The Senate Committee on Local
Government had reported it back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it be approved without amendments.
Unfortunately, it was not taken up by the Senate due to lack of
material time.

In order to preserve, value and celebrate the historical milestone of
15 May 1901, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

FRANCISCO SE F. MATUGAS II



Republic of the Philippines

BOUse OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _213

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE FRANCISCO JOSE F. MATUGAS II

AN ACT DECLARING MAY 15 OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NON-
WORKING HOLIDAY IN THE ENTIRE PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL NORTE TO BE
KNOWN AS “ADLAW NAN PROBINSYA NAN SURIGAO"AND REPEALING FOR THE
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7553, ENTITLED “AN ACT DECLARING JUNE
NINETEEN OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE
PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL NORTE, TO BE KNOWN AS ‘ADLAW NAN SURIGAO
DEL NORTE"

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

SECTION 1. May Fifteen (15) of every year is hereby declared as a special
non-working holiday in the entire Province of Surigao del Norte to be known
as “Adlaw Nan Probinsya Nan Surigao”.

SECTION 2, Republic Act No. 7553, entitled ‘An Act Declaring June
Nineteen of Every Year as a Special Nonworking Holiday in the Province of
Surigao del Norte, to be Known as “Adlaw Nan Surigao del Norte" is hereby
repealed.

SECTION 3. All laws, executive orders, decrees, rules and regulations
and other issuances inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby
deemed amended and modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,