Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES i
Quezon City

REC
SEIVED

EIGHTEENTH (18"") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL Nt 2594

Introduced by: Representative Jose L. Atienza, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The City of Manila has always played a major part in our country’s history, from the time
of the rajahs, up to the Second World War. It is a city rich in history and culture, without which
the Philippines would not be what it is now.

Aside from a proud and brave people, Manila is replete with historical and cultural sites,
Rone more significant perhaps than Intramuros and Luneta Park in the heart of the city.
Intramuros is where crucial battles took place, and Bagumbayan in Luneta where our very own
National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal was martyred and buried.

However, during martial law, ownership and management of Luneta Park were removed
from the city government of Manila and transferred to a national agency-- the National Parks
Development Committee (NPDC). Over the past decades, this important part of Philippine
history and culture has deteriorated and become a highly-commercialized area. It is now full of
informal settlers, fastfood restaurants, hotels and other activities totally unrelated to history and
culture. The City Mayor sits merely as a member of the NPDC, which, in fact, is dependent on
the very services that the city government renders, just like the rest of the city.

This bill seeks to return the ownership and management of this historical and cultural
treasure to the City of Manila, where the Mayor should be given full control and supervision.
The Mayor is in the best position to chart the course of his city, as well as these priceless parts of
Manila and the nation’s history. He should be given full rein to develop and preserve these
treasures, together with the rest of the city. This is giving full meaning to the spirit of local
autonomy. This is what local autonomy is all about — empowering all local governments to plan
their own development and progress, as embodied in our Constitution and Local Government
Code. No city would be able to fully develop and achieve progress if its treasures jare lost and
given away by the national government.

J . ATL , JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 2594

Introduced by: Representative Jose L. Atienza, Jr.

AN ACT
RETURNING THE ADMINISTRATION, CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
OF LUNETA PARK TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MANILA.

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “ Act Returning the
Administration, Control and Management of Luneta Park to the City
Government of Manila”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. —\t is the policy of the State under Article
II, Section 25, that Autonomy of the Local Government Units shall be
ensured.

SECTION 3. The Administration, Control and Management of the Luneta Park
shall be under the City Government of Manila

SECTION 4. . Separability Clause. —\f any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, otherwise provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, decrees, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved.