Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 292

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Immaculate Conception Parish Church and the Municipality of
Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija have been bestowed a great blessing when the Holy
Face of Manoppello ~ the veil “no human hands have made” and believed to
miraculously bear an imprint of Christ's face! - was formally enshrined in said
church on September 15, 2014.

Radyo Veritas reported that Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, Rector of the Shrine
and Basilica of the Holy Face of Manoppello in Italy, has chosen the
aforementioned church to be the center of devotion of Holy Face of Manoppello
in the country.

The Holy Face has been housed for the last 500 years in the Capuchin
Convent! in Abruzzo, Pescara. Pope Benedict XVI's visits in the Shrine in the
early days of his Papacy have drawn thousands of pilgrims to the small
community. These Papal visits called unprecedented attention to the Veil’s
major significance in the history of Jesus Christ’s life on earth.

Since the enthronement of the Holy Face of Manoppello at the
Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Nampicuan, thousands of pilgrims,
devotees, and tourists have already flocked to the small town.

This bill, therefore, aims to declare the Immaculate Conception Parish
Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, in the Municipality of
Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija, as a pilgrimage site and tourist destination,

+ Manoppello veil enshrined in Nueva Ecija Town by Raymund A. Sebastian. September 22, 2014
(www.cbepnews.com)

2 Holy Face of Jesus of Manoppello, pormal na iniluklok sa Immaculate Conception Parish, Nampicuan, Nueva
Ecija by Arnel Pelacio. September 17, 2014 (www.veritsas846.ph)

° Manila awaits the Holy Face of Jesus from Manoppelio, Italy by Matey Alberto, September 4-10, 2014. Las
Vegas Asian Journal (www.asianjournal.com)


mandating the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies, in
coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways, and in
consultation with the local government unit of Nampicuan, to come up with
a comprehensive development plan for the improvement of the Immaculate
Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus, all areas
attached to it, and all roads leading to and from it.

This bill was filed as HB No. 7291 during the 17 Congress and was

passed on Third and Final Reading. In view of the foregoing, the immediate
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘LLITA B. SUANSING


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 292

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

AN ACT
DECLARING IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH, SANCTUARY
OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS, IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF NAMPICUAN,
PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECIJA A PILGRIMAGE SITE AND TOURIST
DESTINATION, PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary of the
Holy Face of Jesus, located in the Municipality of Nampicuan, Province of
Nueva Ecija is hereby declared a pilgrimage site and a tourist destination. As
such, its development shall be prioritized by the Department of Tourism (DOT)
and other concerned agencies, subject to the rules and regulations governing
the development of pilgrimage sites and tourist destinations.

SEC. 2. The technical description of the area encompassing the Immaculate
Conception Parish, Sanctuary of the Hoy Face of Jesus and its immediate
environs, being declared as a pilgrimage site and tourist destination are as
follows:

Lines Bearings Distances
LOT 477

1-2 3 15°13E 64.67 meters

2-3 37T25W 58.01 meters

3-4 Nil ’46W 67.41 meters

41 N73'57E 53.86 meters
LOT 715

1-2 N 73°56E 53.91 meters

2-3 3 1855E 62.19 meters

1 S7T25W 58.02 meters


eVaunauwne

10
1
12
13

14
15
16
7

18
19
20

21
22

41 N 15713 W 64.67 meters
Tie lines from BLLM # 1, Nampicuan Cad. To Corner 1”:

Lot No. Bearings Distances
477 3 4835 W 222.56 meters
715 3 48°35 W 222.56 meters

SEC. 3. Within one (1) year after the approval of this Act, the DOT, in
coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and
other concerned agencies of the government shall prepare a tourism
development plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance of
such appropriate facilities and infrastructure that shall improve the overall
feature of the area thereby ensuring the accessibility and security of pilgrims
and tourists; Provided, That the said development plan shall ensure the
preservation and conservation of the historic significance of the area.

SEC. 4. The DOT and its concerned attached agencies shall take immediate
steps to implement the tourism development plan that will suit the needs of
the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, Sanctuary of the Holy Face of
Jesus, and shall incorporate the same in the National Tourism Development
Plan.

SEC. 5. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Department’s program
the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act and from internally-generated funds of the
DOT.

SEC. 6. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOT, in
consultation with the local government unit of Nampicuan, shall promulgate
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,