Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____________ 
Introduced by: 
HON. KING GEORGE LEANDRO ANTONIO V. COLLANTES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Shrine and Parish of Saint Padre Pio commonly known 
as Padre Pio Shrine is the first national shrine designated by the Catholic 
Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in the province ofBatangas. 
It is situated in a 1.6-hectare land at Barangay San Pedro, City of Sto. 
Tomas, Province ofBatangas. 
Since the establishment of its parish last June 28, 2003, countless 
devotees and parishioners visit the shrine to attend mass for special prayer 
and healing through the intercession of Saint Padre Pio. The Shrine 
received two special relics of Saint Padre Pio from Fr. Ermelindo Di Capua, 
O.F.M., Cap., a Capuchin priest who had served the patron. Many people 
have stories of blessings and healings received through fervent prayers 
and devotion to this miraculous saint. It also became the venue for the 4th 
World Apostolic Congress of Mercy last 16-20 January 2017. 
Its designation as a National Shrine last September 14, 2015 has 
seen a tremendous increase in the economic and tourism activities in the 
area resulting in more businesses and jobs for our people. 
To meet the increasing potentials of the said place, it is significant 
that the national government, through the Department of Tourism (DOT) 
and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to 
provide funding assistance and ensure its proper tourism development 
planning and implementation are undertaken. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
July 1, 2025
2:42 pm
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KING GEORGE LEANDRO ANTONIO V. COLLANTES 
Representative, 3rd District, Batangas 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by: HON. KING GEORGE LEANDRO ANTONIO V. COLLANTES 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF PADRE PIO COMMONLY 
KNOWN AS PADRE PIO SHRINE LOCATED IN BRGY. SAN PEDRO, 
CITY OF STO. TOMAS, PROVINCE OF BATANGAS AS A TOURIST 
DESTINATION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The National Shrine of Padre Pio located in Barangay 
San Pedro, City of Sto. Tomas, Province Batangas and its environs is 
declared a tourist destination. As such, the development of its immediate 
environs shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), in 
coordination with the Local Government of Sto. Tomas, Batangas and other 
concerned agencies and shall be subject to the rules and regulations 
governing the development of a tourist destination. 
SEC. 2. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in 
coordination of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and 
other concerned agencies of the government shall prepare a tourism 
development plan involving construction, installation and maintenance of 
such appropriate facilities and infrastructure that shall improve the overall 
features of the area surrounding the Padre Pio Shrine, thereby ensuring its 
accessibility and the security of tourists: Provided, That said development 
plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of the historical 
significance of the area. 
SEC. 3. The DOT and its concerned attached agencies shall take 
immediate steps to implement the appropriate tourism development plan 
for the immediate environs of the National Shrine of Padre Pio or the Padre 
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Pio Shrine and its immediate environs and shall incorporate the same in 
the National Tourism Development Plan. 
  
SEC. 4. The Secretary of the DOT and the Chief Operating Officer of 
the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) shall 
include in the Annual General Appropriations Act and internally generated 
funds of the DOT. 
  
SEC. 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOT, 
in consultation with the local government unit of Sto. Tomas, Batangas shall 
promulgate the rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this 
Act. 
  
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
  
 
​
Approved,