Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Mark O. Go 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
   EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall encourage 
non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of 
the nation.  
 On 01 June 1919, the Rotary Club of Manila was chartered and became the first 
Rotary Club not only in the Philippines, but in Asia. It took over a decade before the next 
clubs in the country would be organized, all of which in Visayas, the Rotary clubs of Cebu, 
Iloilo and Bacolod. Later on, a Rotary club was chartered in Davao in Mindanao. Today, 
there are nearly 900 Rotary clubs operating all over the Philippines, devoted to the service of 
Filipinos.  
This bill seeks to declare February 23 of every year as “National Rotary Day”, to 
coincide with the annual anniversary celebration of Rotary in the Philippines, in recognition 
of its significant contributions to Filipinos for the past century. From providing facilities for 
the treatment of leprosy, to supporting various environmental, health and education causes, 
and to nationwide polio immunization efforts, among others, Rotary has been at the forefront 
of delivering services that actually impact Filipino communities.   
The declaration of a special working holiday in honor of an organization that is 
known all over the country for its involvement in various socio-civic causes, sheds light on 
how the Constitutionally recognized role of civil society in nation-building is at work in the 
country. It is envisioned that through this nationwide recognition, the spirit of Rotary’s motto, 
“Service above self,” will spread even outside the organization, and inspire fellow Filipinos 
to take part and take action.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate consideration and approval of this measure is 
earnestly sought. 
MARK O. GO 
July 19, 2022
10:05 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Mark O. Go  
_____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT  
DECLARING FEBRUARY 23 OF EVERY YEAR AS 
THE NATIONAL ROTARY DAY  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. National Rotary Day. – February 23 of every year is hereby declared as 
the “National Rotary Day”, a special working holiday in the entire country, in 
commemoration of the annual anniversary of Rotary in the Philippines, and in recognition of 
Rotary’s long history of providing humanitarian work to uplift the conditions of Filipino 
communities.  
SEC. 2. Effectivity. –This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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