NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
)
r'?*ar?
24 ^PR 22 P3S0
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2R40
Introduced by Senator Aquilino uKoko” Pimentel III
AN ACT
DECLARING THE 9th OF JULY OF EVERY YEAR AS A 
SPECIAL DAY FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 
“PHILIPPINES - ITALY FRIENDSHIP DAY”
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines and Italy established their bilateral relationship 
on July 9, 1947, starting with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship 
and General Relations in Rome.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1947, the 
Philippines and Italy have concluded several agreements. These 
agreements, among others, include those pertaining to scientific and 
technical cooperation, air services, taxation, investments, development 
cooperation, culture, social security, small and medium enterprises, 
transportation and communications, and defense.
Last year, our government, through the Department of 
Agriculture (DA), invited Italian private businesses to invest in the 
Philippines through modernizing agricultural facilities. Total agri-food 
trade between the Philippines and Italy amounted to USD272 million 
in 2022, up by 50 percent from the total value of agri-food bilateral 
trade in 2020, the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and higher by 
10 percent from the bilateral agri-food trade value in 2021.1
1 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/l 212675


According to the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO), Italy 
ranked as the top 5 country of destination among Filipino emigrants 
from 1981 to 2019, accounting for 1.67% of the overall Filipino 
emigration population in this period, totaling 41,714 emigrants.
This bill seeks to dedicate July 9th as a special day to honor the 
long-standing partnership between the Philippines and Italy.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly 
sought.
KOKO
ENTEL III


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2G40
V -7
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24 APR 22 P3 SO
RgCEiVtD SV
Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel HI
AN ACT
DECLARING THE 9th OF JULY OF EVERY YEAR AS A 
SPECIAL DAY FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 
“PHILIPPINES - ITALY FRIENDSHIP DAY”
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State
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to pursue an independent foreign policy in its relations with other
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States. It is also the policy of the State to put value to its existing
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bilateral relations with other States and to commemorate and celebrate
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these bilateral relations annually, and on their special occasions like the
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50th, 75th, and 100th year anniversaries of the said bilateral relations.
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SEC. 2. Diplomatic Relations. - The Philippines and Italy
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established their diplomatic relations on July 9,1947. Therefore, the 9th
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of July of every year is hereby declared as a Special Day for the
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commemoration of the “Philippines - Italy Friendship Day”.
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SEC. 3. Implementing Agency. - The Department of Foreign
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Affairs (DFA) shall lead the Government in the commemoration and
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celebration of the “Philippines - Italy Friendship Day” annually, and
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on other special occasions such as the 100th year anniversary.


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SEC 4. Special Day Status. - The Special Day status of the date 
herein referred to in Section 2 shall not affect its classification as either 
a working or a non-working day as determined by some other more 
specific law.
SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current 
appropriations of the DFA. Thereafter, such amount necessary for the 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
accordingly.
SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,