Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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Quezon City, Metro Manila }  vaTe:30 yy)

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

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BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

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House Brit No. 626

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1679, the first major Spanish settlement in the island of Camiguin was established in
Catarman, then called Katagman or Katadman. This settlement grew and prospered. However,
the eruption of Mount Vulcan Daan on May 1, 1871 destroyed the town and portions thereof
were submerged beneath the sea, including what is now known as the Sunken Cemetery. Alll that
remains of old Catarman are the ruins of the ancient Spanish church, its convent, and bell tower.
After the volcanic eruption, the settlement moved to where the center of the Municipality of
Catarman is presently located

Due to lack of historical records, the exact date of the founding of Catarman is unknown. It has
nevertheless been the tradition of residents to celebrate the founding of Catarman on the same
day as the town fiesta on the feast of Saint Roch, the town’s patron saint, every fifteenth (15) of
August. Hence, to commemorate the foundation day anniversary of Catarman, Republic Act No.
9203 provides that August 15 of every year is a special non-working holiday in the Municipality
of Catarman, Province of Camiguin

The Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Catarman, after consultation with barangay
officials and town residents, passed Resolution No. 25, Series of 2011, earnestly asking that the
special non-working holiday for purposes of commemorating the foundation day anniversry of
Catarman be moved from August 15 to August 30 of each year. This change is reqested in order
to give local officials and residents ample time and opporunity to fully give attention to and
actively participate in the various activities in lined up every year to celebrate the founding of
Catarman, Hence, this proposed measure was originally filed in the 15" Congress. It was filed
again in the 16" Congress and was approved by the House of Representatives on Third Reading,

It is hoped that this bill finally becomes a law in the 17" Congress. The support of the Members
of Congress for the prompt and timely passage of this measure is ardently sought.

aol ll

XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

28
House BILL No, 636

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9023, ENTITLED AN ACT DECLARING THE
FIFTEEN (15TH) DAY OF AUGUST OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NON-
WORKING HOLIDAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CATARMAN, PROVINCE OF
CAMIGUIN, TO BE KNOWN AS CATARMAN DAY, BY MOVING THE DATE OF
CATARMAN DAY TO THE THIRTIETH (30TH) DAY OF AUGUST OF EVERY
YEAR

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

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9203 is hereby amended to read as

follows:

“SECTION 1. August [Fifteenth (15th)] THIRTIETH (30TH) of every
year is hereby declared as a special nonworking holiday in the
Municipality of Catarman, Province of Camiguin, to commemorate

its foundation day anniversary, TO BE KNOWN AS CATARMAN

DAY.”

SEC. 2. The Municipal Government of Catarman in the Province of Camiguin
shall disseminate, through means it deems proper and expedient, the change
of the date of Catarman Day to its component barangays, as well as to the

Provincial Government of Camiguin, for proper coodination of activities.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the

Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,