Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV
Constitution Hills, Quezon Cit

NINETEENTH CONGRESS *
First Regular Session

142

House Bill No, “©

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the largest
Marian Churches in the Philippines. Thousands of devotees flood the church
every Wednesday to attend Mass and pray the Novena of Our Mother of Perpetual
Help. This tradition of Wednesday worship by the devotees of the Mother of
Perpetual Help made popular the term "Baclaran Day" in Metro Manila. During
this Baclaran Day, the roads leading to the church are congested by thousands of
devotees and pilgrims. The Shrine celebrates the annual feast day of the Icon of
Our Mother of Perpetual Help every 27" of June, drawing more pilgrims and
devotees to throng to the church.

Since the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1958, the shrine has been
authorized by the Holy See to remain open 24 hours a day throughout the entire
year. The shrine itself was blessed by Pope John Paul IT during his first Apostolic
Visit to Metro Manila in 1981.

The present modern Romanesque church is the third to be built on the same
site since the second church was burned during the Japanese occupation. It took
six (6) years to build the present church from the donations of the devotees and
pilgrims.

The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help of popularly known
as Baclaran Church has been part of the sociocultural landscape of the country.
particularly in Metro Manila and has been a pilgrim site among the millions of
Marian devotees in the Philippines, and also attracts domestic and foreign
tourists.



Henceforth, it is essential that government take the necessary steps or
programs to conserve and preserve this important cultural site, and protect and
secure the thousands of pilgrims and tourists flocking to Baclaran Church.

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

EDWIN L. OLIV



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

142

House Bill No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT
DECLARING THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONS OF THE NATION:
SHRINE OF OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL POPULARLY KNOWN
AS THE BACLARAN CHURCH, LOCATED ALONG ROXAS
BOULEVARD, PARANAQUE CITY, A HERITAGE SITE AND
TOURIST DESTINATION, 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 National Shrine of Our Mother
of Perpetual Help, popularly known as the Baclaran Church, located along Roxas
Boulevard, Parafiaque City, is hereby declared a heritage site and tourist
destination. As such, the development of the immediate environs of the Baclaran
Church shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), in coordination
with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the local
government of Parafiaque and other concerned agencies, subject to the rules and
regulations governing the development of heritage sites and 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 (DPWH) and
other concerned agencies of the government, shall prepare a tourism development
plan including the construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate
facilities and infrastructure that shall improve the overall features of the environs
surrounding the Baclaran Church the security of tourists: Provided, That said
development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of the historical
significance of the area.


Sec. 4. The Secretary of the DOT and the Chairperson of the NHCP shall
include in their respective programs the implementation of this Act, the funding
of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectively of this Act, the DOT, in
consultation with the city government of Parafaque, shall promulgate the

necessary and regulations 12 for the proper implementation of this Act
ry i= prop ip!

See. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,