Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila on the day of two
thousand and twenty-five

HOUSE BILLNO, 3242

Introduced by Representative Agatha Paula “Agay” A. Cruz

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.”
("He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.”) ~
José Rizal, Philippine National Hero (1861-1896)

The preservation of historical facts, buildings, and sites is important for the genuine
appreciation of the past in preparation for the future. In historical sites, one is immersed and
humbled by feelings and sentiments of the historical events that once took place.

Pandi is the youngest town in Bulacan where momentous events took place during the
Philippine Revolution.

According, to researchers and records of the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines (NHCP), the “Kakarong Republic” was the “first and truly organized
Revolutionary Government established in the country to overthrow the Spaniards antedating
even the famous "Malolos" and the "Biak-na-Bato Republic’. The Kakarong Republic was
established in Kakarong de Sili, composed of about 6,000 Katipuneros from different parts of
Bulacan. The Kakarong Republic established a fort that was like a “miniature city” with its
own set of officials, streets, independent police force, musical band, factory of falconets, bolos
and repair shops for rifles and cartridges. It was on January 1, 1987 that the commemorated
Battle of Kakarong de Sili took place where the fort was destroyed and about 3,000 Katipunero
revolutionaries died.!

Today, in commemoration of the events that took place, there stands a shrine in the
actual site of the Battle of Kakarong de Sili in the Municipality of Pandi.

' Municipality of Pandi, History, https://bulacan.gov.ph/cities-and-municipalities/pandi/


It is high time that the shrine of the Battle of Kakarong de Sili be established and
developed as a historical park and ecotourism site to reinforce our history and enhance the
progress of our nation, culturally, economically, socially, developmentally, environmentally,
and educationally.

Considering the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

GATHA PAULA “AGAYY A. CRUZ
Representative, Fifth District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3242

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Agatha Paula “Agay” A. Cruz

AN ACT DECLARING THE SHRINE OF THE BATTLE OF KAKARONG DE SILI AND
ITS PREMISES LOCATED IN BARANGAY REAL DE KAKARONG, MUNICIPALITY
OF PANDI, PROVINCE OF BULACAN A HISTORICAL PARK AND ECOTOURISM
SITE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Battle of Kakarong De Sili
Historical Park and Ecotourism Site Act”.

Section 2. Battle of Kakarong De Sili Historical and Ecotourism Site. ~ The Shrine of
the Battle of Kakarong De Sili and its premises located in Barangay Real De Kakarong,
Municipality of Pandi, Province of Bulacan is hereby declared a historical park and
ecotourism site. Its development shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), in
coordination with the Municipality of Pandi and other concerned agencies, subject to the rules
and regulations governing the development of ecotourism sites.

Section 3. Preservation and Development Plan. — Within one (1) year after the
effectivity of this Act, the DOT shall prepare the site development plan for, among others, the
construction, installation, and maintenance of appropriate buildings, facilities, and amenities
to enhance tourism in the area, in consultation with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise
Zone Authority (TIEZA) and other concerned agencies of the government, Provided, that any
and all site development plans shall underscore the historical significance of the site.

Section 4, Implementation. - The DOT shall take prompt action towards the
implementation of the site development plan under the preceding Section. ‘The site
development plan of the Battle of Kakarong De Sili Historical and Ecotourism Site shall be
part of the DOT's tourism development programs for the succeeding year following the
effectivity of this Act.

Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the


effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOT shall promulgate the necessary implementing
rules and regulations (IRR) for the proper implementation of this Act.

Section 6. Funding. - The amounts necessary for the implementation of this Act shall
be sourced from the current appropriations of the DOT and thereafter it shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act under the projects of the DOT and whenever
necessary, charged against the internally generated funds of the DOT.

Section 7. Separability clause. ~ If any provision of this Act be declared inv.
unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of
this Act.

id or

Section 8. Repealing clause. — All provisions of laws, presidential decrees, letters of
instruction and other presidential issuances which are incompatible or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby deemed amended or repealed.

Section 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,