NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1471
Senate
oftiic^nvct.up
•22 NOV-7 PI 58
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
DECLARING QUIAPO DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF MANILA A NATIONAL 
HISTORICAL - CULTURAL HERITAGE ZONE, APPROPRIATE FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Quiapo is geographically at the center of the city of Manila. In this area, a large number 
of public transportation lines intersect. Nearly everything in the district offers the most enticing 
wholesale and retail bargains. Its streets are home to many of the most historic businesses, 
eateries, and publications. In an article titled, Quiapo: A Historical Sketch published in UP 
Digital Humanities, Michael Carlo C. Villas discussed that Quiapo acquired its name from Kiapo, 
scientific name: stratioies pistia, a water lily resembling cabbage, that thrives in profusion 
along Manila's esteros before Spanish conquistadors and friars first set foot on its territory.
In the book, Quiapo: Heart of Manila, Dr. Fernando N. Zialcita, anthropologist and 
professor at the Ateneo de Manila University wrote in the book, that during the Spanish 
colonial period, Quiapo was marshland and fishing grounds, split into small islands by streams 
and rivulets. The Franciscan missionaries came and established what is now the Minor Basilica 
of the Black Nazarene housing the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, patron of Quiapo, who 
attracts devotees from all walks of life every 9th of January. The Augustinians were the next 
to arrive establishing a chapel in honor of St. Sebastian on the same spot where the Minor 
Basilica of San Sebastian now stands.
In an article, Quiapo in the History of the Nation published in a blog, Quiapography, 
Pio Andrade Jr. discussed that during the early American colonial period, Quiapo rose to 
become a center of news publishing. El Renacimiento and Philippines Free Press, to name the


most famous publications of the period, had its offices in Quiapo.
During the 1970s, a bomb went off in Plaza Miranda, the area in front of the church, 
on August 23, 1971, during a Liberal Party-political rally, injuring some senatorial candidates. 
And the war waged by the Moro National Liberation Front in Mindanao during this time also 
brought with it a migration of Muslim families to Quiapo. The Globo de Oro area has a close- 
knit peaceful and hardworking Islamic community centered around Manila's first mosque 
called Masjid Al-Dahab.
The tale of Quiapo would fall short, if we do not include discussions of its historic 
homes, the people who lived there, and the occasions that shaped Quiapo into the historical 
site that it is today. One of the largest collections of historic homes in the entire country may 
be found in Quiapo. They are key components of the aesthetic and cultural legacy of both the 
city and the nation. The taste of life, art, style, history, and tradition in this city is further 
enhanced by knowledge with the personal and social histories of these homes. Therefore, it 
is of paramount importance to our national heritage to keep and preserve these historical 
structures.
Quiapo has bore witness to many key events in our nation's history and we will be 
remiss on our historical obligations to future generations of Filipinos if we let Quiapo fall into 
disrepair and fade into oblivion.
DahU kinikilala natin ang kahalagahan ng Quiapo sa ating kultura at kasaysay, at di 
matatawarang ambag sa pambansang kaun/aran, dapat lamang ipakita ng pamahaiaan ang 
kanyang pagpapaha/aga dito sa pamamagitan ng pagtatakda sa Distrito ng Quiapo biiang 
isang Historicai and Cuiturai Heritage Zone.
By providing a framework for the Quiapo District's rehabilitation, this bill seeks to 
establish opportunities to create a wide range of attractions from recreational facilities, retail 
options, and adventure opportunities; all while preserving its heritage and cultural integrity.
This bill aims to produce significant value for our local and national economies and 
produce funds and legal safeguard to protect Quiapo as Cultural Heritage Zone. The 
effectiveness of the redevelopment program, which will change investment activity, tourism 
growth, and land speculation, shall rely on the proper implementation of this bill.
Finally, this bill is in response to the call of heritage conservationist and longtime 
residents of Quiapo to declare the district as a historical and cultural heritage zone.


In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
M. LAPID
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1471
©fficp of tlje
*22 NOV-7 PI 59
RECEIVtD BV:
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
1 
AN ACT
2 
DECLARING QUIAPO DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF MANILA A NATIONAL
3 
HISTORICAL - CULTURAL HERITAGE ZONE, APPROPRIATE FUNDS
4 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
5 
SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Quiapo Heritage Zone
6 
Act".
7 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared to be the policy of
8 
the State to undertake initiatives that will protect, preserve, conserve and promote
9 
the nation's historical and cultural heritage, property, and artistic creations.
10 
Toward this end, the State shall establish historical - cultural heritage zones
11 
following internationally-accepted standards, that improve, promote, and preserve the
12 
richness, quality, and exceptional culture of the Philippines and influence people's
13 
perceptions of our nation.
14 
SECTION 3. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to cultural properties ranging
15 
from cultural treasures, important cultural properties, heritage sites, historical shrines,
16 
historical monuments, historical landmarks, archaeological and traditional
17 
ethnographic materials, works of national heroes, marked structures, structures dating
18 
at least fifty (50) years old, and archival materials/documents dating at least fifty (50)
19 
years old within the Quiapo District in the City of Manila.
1


1 
SECTION 4. Quiapo National Historical and Cultural Heritage Zone. — The
2 
Quiapo District in the City of Manila is hereby declared a heritage zone as defined in
3 
Article II, Section 3 (q) and Article III, Sections 4 and 5 of Republic Act No. 10066,
4 
otherwise known as the "National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009".
5 
As such, it shall be accorded priority development by the Department of
6 
Tourism (DOT), in coordination with the Local Government of the City of Manila, the
7 
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and its affiliated cultural
8 
agencies, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Tourism
9 
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the Department of Public
10 
Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned agencies of the government, shall
11 
be subject to the rules and regulations governing the conservation and preservation
12 
of heritage zones following internationally-accepted standards.
13 
For the purpose of this Act, the built heritage sites in the historical and cultural
14 
heritage zone shall include, but are not limited to the following:
15 
a. Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene;
16 
b. Minor Basilica of San Sebastian;
17 
c. Masjid Al-Dahab, the Manila Golden Mosque and Cultural Center;
18 
d. Plaza del Carmen;
19 
e. Plaza Miranda;
20 
f. Quinta Market;
21 
g. Nakpil-Bautista House;
22 
h. Paterno House;
23 
i. Zamora House;
24 
j. Estrella House;
25 
k. Genato House;
26 
I. Zaragoza House;
27 
m. Iturralde House (Casa Consulado);
28 
n. Ocampo-Santiago House;
29 
0. Ocampo Pagoda Mansion;
30 
p. Padilla Art Gallery;


■ ^ . f- -:r
1 
q. Casa Boix (Teotico - Crespo House);
2 
r. La Electricista Site;
3 
s. Calle Hidalgo;
4 
t. Calle Arlegui;
5 
u. Calle Bautista;
6 
V. Calle Bilibid Viejo;
7 
w. Calle de Guzman; and
8 
X. Globo de Oro Street.
9 
SECTION 5. Quiapo Heritage Zone Development Plan. — The City
10 
Government of Manila shall prepaie a comprehensive Quiapo Heritage Zone
11 
Development Plan. In the preparation of this plan, all the parties interested in
12 
protection, preservation, conservation, restoration and promotion of the city's cultural
13 
heritage, its property and histories into the preparation of the study and the
14 
development plan and ensure the participation of organizations and individual
15 
participants shall be consulted in public hearings and drafting sessions.
16 
The preparation of the plan shall be in coordination with Department of
17 
Tourism, the NCCA and its affiliated cultural agencies, NHCP, TIEZA, and the DPWH.
18 
Research shall be conducted on the heritage sites' architectural, artistic, social,
19 
political, and personal histories and incorporated into the plan in order to assist
20 
concerned government agencies and stakeholders with the process of adaptive reuse,
21 
the creation of manuals, and the identification of additional suitable business ventures
22 
that can be supported in the district.
23 
SECTION 6. Report and Review — Within the year of the implementation of
24 
this Act and each fiscal year thereafter, the City Government of Manila shall render an
25 
annual report to both houses of Congress. The City Government of Manila shall submit
26 
a report describing a summary of the following:
27
a. the status of the Quiapo Historical and Cultural Heritage Zone under this Act;


1 
b. accomplishments of Quiapo Heritage Zone Development Plan established
2 
through this Act; and
3 
c. the types and volume of assistance and services provided to stakeholders
4 
within the Quiapo Historical and Cultural Heritage Zone.
5 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). — Within ninety (90)
6 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Tourism, in coordination with
7 
the Local Government of the City of Manila, the NCCA and its affiliated cultural
8 
agencies, NHCP, TIEZA, and the DPWH, in consultation with the stakeholders, shall
9 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this
10 
Act.
11 
The City Council of the City Government of Manila shall pass a city ordinance
12 
to operationalize appropriately the management of the Quiapo Historical and Cultural
13 
Heritage Zone, including all the heritage site, national cultural treasures, important
14 
cultural property and archaeological and anthropological sites designated as intrinsic
15 
thereto, in accordance with the development plan and in line with the objectives and
16 
provisions of R.A. No. 10066 and this Act. The ordinance shall likewise include the
17 
metes and bounds of the Heritage Zone established pursuant to this Act.
18 
SECTION 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the preservation,
19 
protection, study, restoration and promotion of the cultural and historical integrity of
20 
the geographical area represented by the Heritage Zone shall receive priority
21 
development attention, assistance, and funding from the DOT and its attached
22 
agencies, the NCCA and its affiliated cultural agencies, and from the DPWH subject to
23 
existing appropriate government rules and regulations.
24 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — In the event that any part, section or
25 
provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court,
26 
the remaining provisions thereby shall remain valid and in full force and effect as if
27 
the sections or provisions so annulled or voided had never been incorporated herein.


1 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
2 
rules and regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act
3 
are hereby repealed or modified and/or superseded as case may be by this Act
4 
accordingly.
5 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
6 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
7 
circulation, whichever comes earlier.
8
Approved,