Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7763

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A people who does not learn from the lessons of the past are bound to repeat its
mistakes.

These words from the brilliant philosopher George Santayana ring true today more
than ever. It is a clarion call for people the world over to protect the legacies of the past -
including important documents, materials, structures and edifices that will help define a
society and its culture.

Itis fortunate that the Province of llocos Sur particularly the City of Vigan realized and
continues to appreciate this sage advice. The honor bestowed by the UNESCO to the City of
Vigan as one of the seven wonder cities of the world because of its heritage protection and
development is a testimony of a people's shared commitment to building on from the past as
it charts its future direction. And it pays well to pursue this direction. Today, the City of Vigan
continually draws thousands of local and international tourists who wanted to savor its old-
world ambience-from the cobble-stoned streets to houses and buildings that date back to two
centuries ago

It is this same collective intent that the Municipality of San Vicente pursues. In this
progressive municipality, one can find rich reminders of the past: from the old San Vicente
Church with an impressive facade to the Gabaldon Building type of school building to the
Palacio de Gobernador, Spanish Baldi, Diego Silang Marker and the many ancestral houses
spread in different areas of the town are vestiges of a glorious, historical past. All these the
people of San Vicente want to preserve and protect for posterity — as evident reminders of a
prominent past their town played in the collective history of the Province of llocos Sur.

The need then to declare these cultural and historical assets as the patrimony of the
Municipality of San Vicente is the intent of this bill. Approval of this measure is then earnestly
sought.

yr “DV” B. Savellano
District, Ilocos Sur

Hon. Deogracias
Representativ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

63

HOUSE BILL NO. 7

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano

AN ACT

DECLARING THE OLD SAN VICENTE CHURCH, GABALDON BUILDING, PALACIO DE
GOBERNADOR, SPANISH BALDI, DIEGO SILANG MARKER, ANCESTRAL HOUSES IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF SAN VICENTE, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR AS CULTURAL AND
HISTORICAL PATRIMONY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN VICENTE AND BESTOWING IT
WITH RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES ACCORDED MUSEUM CURATORS:

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

SECTION 1. The Old San Vicente Church, Gabaldon Building, Palacio del Gobernador, Spanish
Baldi, Diego Silang Marker, and ancestral houses in the Municipality of San Vicente, Province of
locos Sur are hereby declared cultural heritage structures and historical patrimony of the
Municipality of San Vicente, locos Sur, vesting it with rights and responsibilities accorded
museum curators.

SECTION 2. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the National
Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) after undertaking the necessary documentation,
shall extend the necessary assistance to the Municipality of San Vicente to ensure that these
cultural and historical assets are properly preserved and enhanced, providing the needed initial
funding support.

SECTION 3. Implementation. The concemed agencies stated above shall issue the necessary
rules, orders, and circulars to implement the provision of this Act.

SECTION 4. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive orders or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended accordingly.

SECTION 5. If any section or part of this Act is held unconstitutional, no other section or provision
shall be affected.

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

Approved,