Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. ______ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARI 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The history and early beginnings of Baybay City were believed to be the only settlement on 
the western coast of Leyte known to the ﬁrst Spanish conquistadores that came with Magellan, as 
were Abuyog on the eastern part of the province and Limasawa and Cabalian in the south. In 1620, 
the Jesuit fathers formally founded the town after building a church and a mission house which 
belonged to the “residencia” of Carigara, the ﬁrst and central station of the Society of Jesuits in 
Leyte. 
Endowed with beautiful scenery and rich natural resources, the Fifth District of Leyte offers 
many tourist attractions. Beautiful natural rivers, hot springs, nature pools and falls, beaches, 
caves, and old relics can be found within the city limits. The district is also a home to several 
festivals: Binaybayon Festival, Tigbawanon Festival, Halaran Festival, and Sirong Festival. 
Our culturally significant historical relics and pieces are dispersed throughout the district's 
several communities. The majority of them have been worn out, submerged in flash floods and 
other natural disasters, stolen, or lost. Unless immediate action is taken, the remaining artifacts 
may vanish and be lost forever. 
It is critical to create a cultural center and museum in Leyte's Fifth District in order to 
preserve and conserve the region's unique history, traditions, and values, as well as its cultural 
legacy and regional identity. 
This measure was previously filed in the 19th Congress by the undersigned and was approved 
by the House on Third Reading on 08-16-2023. It was deliberated by the Senate Committee on 
Culture and the Arts on 08-05-2024 through a Technical Working Group. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is respectfully sought. 
CARL NICOLAS C. CARI 
Representative          
5th District, Leyte    
2608
July 30, 2025
11:20 am


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. ______ 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: HON. CARL NICOLAS C. CARI 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BAYBAY CITY CULTURAL CENTER AND 
MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF BAYBAY, PROVINCE OF LEYTE, DEFINING ITS PURPOSES 
AND OBJECTIVES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the  Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. There is hereby established a cultural center and museum in the City of Baybay, 
Province of Leyte, to be known as the Baybay City Cultural Center and Museum, to promote culture 
and the arts. It shall serve as the institutional medium for the protection, preservation, presentation, 
and promotion of the cultural, artistic, archaeological, social, historical, religious, and philosophical 
heritage of the City and its people in view of the richness of their legacies and their relevance to their 
contemporary and future aspirations. 
SECTION 2. The Baybay City Cultural Center and Museum shall be a collaboration among 
the City Government of Baybay, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Department 
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the National Museum of the Philippines with its 
concerned affiliated cultural agencies and pertinent academic and private sector partners, and members 
of the community. A mutual agreement shall be executed which shall provide for the site, structures, 
governance, organization, operations, and development, and shall be published within one (1) year 
from the effectivity of this Act. 
The City Government of Baybay shall provide the land, choose the site necessary for the 
construction or establishment, or both, and maintain the main venue and ancillary offices and facilities 
of the Baybay City Cultural Center and Museum. 
SECTION 3. To fulfill its purposes and achieve its objectives, the Baybay City Cultural Center 
and Museum shall: 
(a) Compile the musical notes and lyrics of Baybay City traditional songs and ballads,
modern and contemporary music compositions, and collect samples of musical instruments of 
Baybay City origin, design, and creation;  
(b) Acquire and display a varied range of the Baybay City arts and artifacts;
(c) Publish and disseminate the Baybay City literary works, epics, stories, and
historical accounts; 
(d) Compile Baybay City literature, film, or audiovisual recordings of cultural
performances in music, dance, oral literature, and festival celebration; 
(e) Compile Baybay City epigrams, proverbs, legends, and the origin, history, and
etymology of the city; its words, names of barangays, and other places of interest and their 
respective histories;  
(f) Conduct performances on Baybay City music, dances, arts, literary works, epics,
stories, historical accounts, and legends; 
2608


 
 
 
 
 
 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
 
 
(g) Gather and document Baybay City religious practices and traditions, and the 
background and origin of Baybay City fiestas and festivals; 
(h) Compile photographs of and showcase by appropriate exhibits, Baybay City 
landmarks, historical sites, and scenic views; 
(i) Gather specimens of archaeological findings, and collect stones, rocks, and other 
geological materials, and preserve by appropriate methods samples of flora and fauna 
indigenous to Baybay City and its environs; and 
(j) Carry out any other relevant and appropriate activities. 
 
SECTION 4. The DPWH shall construct the Baybay City Cultural Center and Museum in 
coordination with the NCCA: Provided, that the NCCA shall provide technical expertise and assistance 
to the Baybay City Cultural Center and Museum. 
 
SECTION 5. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in 
the General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 6. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the NCCA shall, in 
coordination with the City Government of Baybay, other concerned agencies of the government, and 
private stakeholders, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation 
of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the implementing rules and regulations, 
this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper 
of general circulation. 
 
 
APPROVED,