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Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Immaculate Conception Parish Church and the Municipality of Nampicuan, Nueva
Ecija have been bestowed a great blessing when the Holy Face of Manoppello— the veil ‘no human
hands have made” and believed to miraculously bear an imprint of Christ's face’ - was formally
enshrined in said church on September 15, 2014.

Radyo Veritas reported that Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, Rector of the Shrine and Basilica of the
Holy Face of Manoppelio in Italy, has chosen the aforementioned church to be the center of
devotion of Holy Face of Manoppelio in the country.?

The Holy Face has been housed for the last 500 years in the Capuchin Convent? in
Abruzzo, Pescara. Pope Benedict XVI's visits in the Shrine in the early days of his Papacy have
drawn thousands of pilgrims to the small community. These Papal visits called unprecedented
attention to the Veils major significance in the history of Jesus Christ's life on earth

Since the enthronement of the Holy Face of Manoppello at the Immaculate Conception
Parish Church in Nampicuan, thousands of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists have already flocked
to the small town.

This bill, therefore, aims to declare the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary
of the Holy Face of Jesus, in the Municipality of Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija, as a pilgrimage site and
tourist destination, mandating the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies, in
coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways, and in consultation with the local
government unit of Nampicuan, to come up with a comprehensive development plan for the
improvement of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus,
all areas attached to it, and all roads leading to and from it

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

‘LLITA B. SUANSIN

* Manoppello veil enshrined in Nueva Ecija Town by Raymund A. Sebastian. September 22, 2014
(www.cbepnews.com)

Holy Face of Jesus of Manoppello, pormal na iniluklok sa Immaculate Conception Parish, Nampicuan, Nueva
Ecija by Arnel Pelacio. September 17, 2014 (www.veritsas846,ph)

* Manila awaits the Holy Face of Jesus from Manoppello, Italy by Matey Alberto. September 4-10, 2014. Las
‘Vegas Asian Journal (www.asianjournal.com)


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.2433

Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

AN ACT
DECLARING IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH, SANCTUARY OF THE HOLY
FACE OF JESUS, IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF NAMPICUAN, NUEVA ECIJA AS A PILGRIMAGE
SITE AND TOURIST DESTINATION, PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of
Jesus, in the Municipality of Nampicuan, Province of Nueva Ecija is hereby declared a pilgrimage
site and a tourist destination. As such, it shall be accorded with priority development by the
Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concemed agencies subject to the rules and regulations
governing the development of pilgrimage sites and tourist destinations,

SECTION 2. The DOT, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) and other concerned agencies of the government shall, immediately after the
effectivity of this Act, prepare a development plan involving the construction, installation and
maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure that shall improve the overall feature
of the area thereby ensuring the accessibility and security of the pilgrims and tourists; Provided,
That the said development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of the historical
significance of the area.

SECTION 3. The DOT and its attached agencies shall take immediate steps in
implementing the tourism development plan that will suit the needs of the Immaculate Conception
Parish Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, and shall incorporate the same in its overall
development plans and programs for national implementation.

SECTION 4. The DOT, in consultation with the local government unit of Nampicuan,
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 5. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Department's program the
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be charged against the internally generated
funds of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and/or the
appropriations in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,