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Republic of the Philippines \
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Oct 2014
Quezon City STE PIL |
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS NF rs)
Second Regular Session Neo DEX OZ
House Bill No, __ 9124

Introduced by Representative ESTRELLITA “GING” 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 Manoppello in Italy, has chosen the
aforementioned church to be the center of devotion of the Holy Face of
Manoppello 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 Veil’s
major significance in the history of Jesus Christ’s life on Earth.

With the enthronement of the Holy Face of Manoppello at the
Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Nampicuan, it is anticipated that
thousands of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists will flock 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

* Manopello veil enshrined in Nueva Ecija Town by Raymind A. Sebastian. September 22, 2014.
www.cbepnews.com.

* Holy Face of Jesus of Manoppello, pormal na iniluklok sa immaculate Conception Parish, Namplcuan, Nueva
Ecija by Amel Pelaco. September 17, 2014. www.veritas 846.ph.

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

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Nampicuan, province of 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 units 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 early passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

1st District, Nueva Ecij

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5124
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ESTRELLITA “GING” B. SUANSING

AN ACT
DECLARING THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH,
SANCTUARY OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS, IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
NAMPICUAN, PROVINCE OF 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 concerned 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 approval 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 tourist 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.

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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 8. 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,

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