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‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

3996

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
DECLARING THE SIMEON OLA MONUMENT LOCATED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF GUINOBATAN, PROVINCE OF ALBAY, A NATIONAL
MONUMENT, AND PROVIDING FOR ITS PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The preservation of national memory requires that the places where our heroes lived,
fought, and are laid to rest be given due recognition and protection. One such site is the Simeon
Ola Monument in the Municipality of Guinobatan, Province of Albay, which serves both as a
commemorative landmark and the final resting place of General Simeon Ola y Arboleda.

Bom in Guinobatan in 1865, Simeon Ola was among the most prominent Bicolano
leaders of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. He rose to command
revolutionary forces in Albay, organized guerrilla resistance, and continued to defy American
occupation long after most generals had surrendered. On September 25, 1903, Simeon Ola
finally laid down arms, making him recognized as the last general of the Philippine
Revolutionary Army to surrender, symbolically marking the close of the Philippine~American
War.

The monument in Guinobatan where his remains are interred is not merely a memorial
— it is a tangible link to the nation’s revolutionary past and a site of deep historical resonance
for Albay and the Bicol Region. Yet despite its importance, the Simeon Ola Monument has not
been formally declared and protected as a National Monument, leaving it reliant on local
initiatives for its upkeep and recognition.

Declaring the Simeon Ola Monument as a National Monument will:

1. Place it under the official protection and supervision of the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), ensuring conservation and proper historical
interpretation;



2. Institutionalize its role as a site for patriotic education and commemoration, particularly
for future generations of Bicolanos and Filipinos;

3. Provide access to national funding for its preservation and maintenance; and

4. Elevate General Simeon Ola’s legacy to its rightful place in the national historical
consciousness, alongside the monuments of Rizal, Bonifacio, and Quezon.

By enshrining this recognition in law, Congress honors the heroism of the last general
of the Philippine Revolution to surrender, affirms Albay’s vital role in the struggle for
independence, and ensures that the memory of Simeon Ola — and the ideals he fought for —
will remain alive in the heart of the nation.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3996

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
DECLARING THE SIMEON OLA MONUMENT LOCATED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF GUINOBATAN, PROVINCE OF ALBAY, A NATIONAL
MONUMENT, AND PROVIDING FOR ITS PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Simeon Ola National
Monument Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to preserve, protect, and
promote sites and structures of historical and cultural significance. In recognition of the
heroism of General Simeon Ola y Arboleda, the last general of the Philippine Revolutionary
Army to surrender during the Philippine-American War, the Simeon Ola Monument in
Guinobatan, Albay shall be accorded the status of a National Monument.

SEC. 3. Simeon Ola National Monument. The Simeon Ola Monument, located in the
Municipality of Guinobatan, Province of Albay, is hereby declared a National Monument, to
be recognized and protected under Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the National
Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, and its implementing rules and regulations.

SEC. 4. Role of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The National
Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) shall:

(@) issue the appropriate resolution formally recognizing the Simeon Ola Monument as
a National Monument;

(b) install official historical markers;

(c) supervise conservation, restoration, and upkeep efforts, in coordination with the
Provincial Government of Albay and the Municipal Government of Guinobatan; and


(@) ensure that the historical interpretation of Simeon Ola’s life and legacy is accurate,
accessible, and properly integrated into public education and commemoration programs.

SEC. 5. Local Government and Community Participation. The Provincial Government
of Albay and the Municipal Government of Guinobatan shall maintain the immediate
surroundings of the Simeon Ola National Monument, ensure accessibility for visitors, and
integrate the site into local cultural and tourism programs, consistent with NHCP guidance.

SEC. 6. Funding. The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act under the budget of the NHCP. The Provincial Government
of Albay and the Municipal Government of Guinobatan may provide counterpart funds for the
preservation, promotion, and development of the Simeon Ola National Monument.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the NHCP, in consultation with the Provincial Government of Albay
and the Municipal Government of Guinobatan, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, and regulations
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,