nergy, SN

* Recewen D
are; 09 OCT 1160

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3980

mua

HOUSE BILL NO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is a known fact that Filipinos love to celebrate and get together despite the

crises which are transpiring in our localities. We always find reasons to merry make
even if we have deep and serious problems. Actually, it is how we cope with everyday

stress and surviving dilemmas affecting our lives. One popular way is the celebration
of festivals or fiestas which have become a vital part of what defines Filipino cultural
identity.

All year round, the country has a festival to celebrate, may it be to appease the

God/gods or in honor of saints, or in reverence to religious beliefs that define the
true Filipino culture. Influenced by the Spanish colonizers, most of these festivals
used to be religious in nature. Today, they become our means to commemorate
important events in history or to promote a famous produce, either agricultural
products, handicrafts or tradition endemic in that locale. Further, they boost up our
tourism industry as they attract both local and foreign tourists. In fact, most
Filipinos living abroad, popularly tagged as "balikbayans", would come to the country
because of the festive celebrations. ‘That is why festivals will stay and will continue to

reach out to the future while reminiscing the past.

On 10 September 2016, the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan launched the

‘Tanglawan Festival. Derived from the word "ilaw” which means "light", it showcases
the genuine cheerfulness of San Josefios and highlights the vision of the people to
make the City a Sustainable City while honoring the Lady of Lourdes, a famous
religious figure in the city. Hence, the objective of this measure is to institutionalize

the said celebration as a means of cultural preservation.

Premises considered, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.

FLORIDA P. ROBES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3980

AN ACT DECLARING 'TANGLAWAN FESTIVAL" AS AN OFFICIAL
FESTIVAL IN THE CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN AND FOR,
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “San Jose Del
Monte City Tanglawan Festival Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to promote sustainable tourism through the preservation and conservation of
the country’s rich cultural diversities as mirrored in celebrations and festivals.
Towards this end, the State shall support efforts that instill Filipino values and
identity and provide a strong sense of belonging, while boosting the tourism industry
which is a major source of livelihood and employment.

SEC. 3. Festival Declaration. Tanglawan Festival is hereby declared an
official festival in the City of San Jose Del Monte to be celebrated as part of the
commemoration of the founding day of the City of San Jose del Monte.

SEC. 4. Festival Council. — There is hereby created a Festival Council to be
co-chaired by the Legislative Representative and the Local Chief Executive of the
Lone District of San Jose Del Monte.

The membership of the Council shall be composed of barangay chairpersons,
and representatives from the Department of Tourism, private sectors, media and
non-government organizations located and operating in the City.

SEC. 5. Duties and Responsibilities of the Council. To carry out the
purpose of this Act, the Council shall perform the following duties and
responsibilities:

a. Study, adopt, and regularly update the Festival Plan and supervise the
implementation of the corresponding programs and activities therein;

b. Assess and evaluate the potential impact of holding the Festival to the well-
being of San Josefios;

c. Conduct consultations with the local residents of San Jose Del Monte and
incorporate their suggestions and perspectives in the master plan and
programs;


4. Provide technical and financial assistance to the programs initiated in the
barangay level;

e. Formulate rules and regulation which shall promote cultural dancing,
singing, traditional sports, beauty pageant, cleanliness drive and other related
activities; an

£. Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the objectives
of this Act.

SEC. 6. Festival Fund ~ To carry out the purposes of this Act, there shall
be created a special festival fund, which may be sourced out from the Internal
Revenue Allotment of the City or from other possible sources such as
donations and contributions from benevolent individuals and organizations.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within sixty (60) days
after the effectivity of this Act, the City Government, the Office of the District
Representative, barangay officials and other ‘select individuals and
organizations, shall formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulations
for its implementation.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause ~ If any provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause — All laws, executive orders or issuance, any
parts thereof which’ are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,