Republic of the Philippine:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Hoase Bill No. 448.1

Introduced by Honorable Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our Lady of Manaoag is one of the most venerated Marian images in the
country. Its glorious history can be traced back to 1600°s when the image was finally
brought in the Philippines by a Spanish priest named Padre Juan de San Jacinto, From
then on, the Lady of Manaoag has served to become a refuge to many devotees who
have wished to establish a deeper and more personal relationship with the Lady: thus,
making the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, located in Manaoag,
Pangasinan, as an emblem of Filipino Catholicism. For many centuries, the image of
the Our Lady of Manaoag has remained intact and undamaged after having survived a
series of threat ranging from mere pressure from non-Catholics to complete church
destruction due to revolutions—a mystery considered by many of its followers. ‘There
were also narratives of miracles encountered by a significant number of the Marian
devotees.

In recognition of its special role in fostering and in shaping Catholicism in the
Philippines, on June 21, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI approved the granting of the special
bond of spiritual affinity in perpetuity affiliating the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major
in Rome to the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag— the very fist in the Phitippines. T
ance of the same plenary indulgence equal to that received
iting a papal basilica in Rome. Shortly after, on July 22, 2011, the shrine was
elevated into a Minor Basilica thereby calling it the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary
of Manaoag.

Our Lady of Manaoag is often called as the pilgrim center of the north and its
feast is among the most highly celebrated events in the Philippines. Millions of pilgrims
visit the Basilica every year with its number continuously growing as more witness the
glory it brings to those who humble their hearts. The shrine also continues to entice
visitors not just from our country but from the many parts of the world making it one of
the most visited places in the Philippines. However, as a result, the flow of people
became highly dynamic. This augments the need to adopt policies and measures that
would protect the historical significance of the area while ensuring accessibility and
security to pilgrims.



‘This bill, therefore, aims to declare the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of
Manaoag in the province of Pangasinan 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 (DPWH), and in consultation with the
local government units of Manaoag, to come up with a comprehensive development
plan for the improvement of the Manaoag Shrine, all areas attached to it, and all roads
eading to and from it.

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

GINA P. BE VENECIA
4M District, Pangasinan



lippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

PH CONGRE:
irst Regular Session

House Bill No. 448 1

Introduced by Honorable Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia

AN ACT
DECLARING THE BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY OF
MANAOAG IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MANAOAG, PROVINCE OF
PANGASINAN AS A PILGRIMAGE SITE AND TOURIST DESTINATIOI
PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATING FUND‘
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag 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
site and tourist destinations

SEC. 2. The Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned agencies of the government
shall, immediately afier 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
sibility and security of the pilgrims and tourists: Provided, That the said
opment plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of the historical
significance of the area.

SEC, 3. The Department of Tourism and its attached agencies shall tke
immediate steps in implementing the tourism development plan that will suit the needs
of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag and shall incorporate the same in
its overall development plans and programs for national implementation

SEC. 4. ‘The Department of Tourism, in consultation with the local government
unit of Manaoag, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of this Act.


SEC. 5. The Sceretary of the Department of Tourism shall include in the
Department’s program the implementation of this Act and shall allocate an initial
funding of Two Hundred Million Pesos (P 200,000,000.00) which shall be charged
against the Department’s budget under the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
Jeast two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,