Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6999

HOUSE BILL No, 8993

Introduced by Representative FRANCISCO JOSE “BINGO” F. MATUGAS II

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SIARGAO ISLAND CULTURAL CENTER AND
MUSEUM IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF GENERAL LUNA, PROVINCE OF
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, DEFINING ITS PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

LANATOR’ TE

Siargao Island is one of the prime tourism destinations in the country. Known to many
as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines, Cloud 9 in the Municipality of General Luna is one
of the best surf spots in the world. Aside from surfing, however, our visitors in the island
have been in awe of its pristine beauty ~ clear blue waters, unspoiled beaches and welcoming
locals. No doubt it was named the best island in the world by Condé Nast Traveler in 2019
and best in Asia in 2021. The entire island, a protected landscape and seascape, was one of
Time Magazine's World Greatest Places 2021.

Aside from the island’s physical beauty, however, it has a very rich cultural, artistic,
social and religious heritage. There are festivals all year round - the Cabuntog Festival,
Kinhason Festival, Bakhaw Festival, Lip-ipan Festival, among others. It is home to old
churches like the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in the Municipality of Del Carmen and the
Sto. Nifio Parish Church in the Municipality of Dapa. Unfortunately, it has no cultural center
and museum to showcase and preserve this heritage. This bill seeks to establish the Siargao
Island Museum and Cultural Center to ensure the collection, preservation and enhancement
of its heritage, local history, identity, traditions, and values.

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

FRANCISCO JOSE “BINGO” F. MATUGAS II
First District, Surigad del Norte (Siargao Island)


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

6999

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative FRANCISCO JOSE “BINGO” F. MATUGAS II

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SIARGAO ISLAND CULTURAL CENTER AND
MUSEUM IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF GENERAL LUNA, PROVINCE OF
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, DEFINING ITS PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby established a cultural center and museum in the
Municipality of General Luna, Siargao Island, Province of Surigao del Norte, to be
known as the Siargao Island Cultural Center and Museum to promote culture and the
arts. It shall serve as the institutional medium for the protection, preservation,
presentation and promotion of the cultural, artistic, archaeological, social, historical,
religious and philosophical heritage of Siargao Island and its people in view of the
richness of their legacies and of their relevance to their contemporary and future
aspirations.

SEC. 2. The Siargao Island Cultural Center and Museum shall be a collaboration
between the Municipalities of Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, Pilar, San
Benito, San Isidro, Santa Monica, Socorro and the National Commission for Culture
and the Arts (NCCA) with its concerned affiliated cultural agencies and pertinent
academic and private sector partners, and members of the community, with its site,
structures, governance, organization, operations, and development to be provided for
by mutual agreement between the parties, to be executed and published within one
(1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 3. To fulfill its purposes and achieve its objectives, the Siargao Island
Cultural Center and Museum shall:


14
15
16

7
18
19

20
2

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

32
33

34

36

(a) Complete musical notes and lyrics of Siargaonon’s songs, traditional songs
and ballads, and modern and contemporary music compositions, and collect
samples of musical instruments of local origin, design, and creation;

(b) Publish and disseminate Siargao Island's literary works, epics, stories, and
historical accounts;

(© Compile Siargao Island's literature, film, or audio-visual recordings of
cultural performances in music, dance, oral literature, and festival
celebrations;

(@ Compile Siargao Island's epigrams, proverbs, legends, and the origin and
etymology of the island, its words, names of barangays, municipalities and
other places of interests and their respective histories;

(e) Gather and document Siargao Island's religious practices and traditions,
and the background and origin of the local fiestas and festivals;

@® Compile photographs of and showcase by appropriate exhibits, local
landmarks, historical sites and scenic views, and acquire and display varied
range of local arts and artifacts;

(g) Gather specimens of archaeological findings, collect stones, rocks, and other
geological materials, and preserve by appropriate methods samples of flora and
fauna indigenous to the island and its environs;

(h) Conduct performances on local music, dances, arts, literary works, epics,
stories, historical accounts and legends; and

@ Carry out any other relevant and appropriate activities,

SEC. 4. The Municipal Government of General Luna shall provide the land
necessary for the construction or establishment, or both of the main venue and
ancillary offices and facilities of the Siargao Island Cultural Center and Museum.

SEC. 5. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged against the current year's budget of the NCCA (Proper). Thereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the NCCA, in
coordination with the municipal governments in Siargao Island, other concerned
agencies of the government, and private stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the implementing rules and
regulations, this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.