Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2672

Introduced by HON. JOSEFINA B. TALLADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria, established in the year 1611, is the oldest and first
church in the Province of Camarines Norte. The church was built by Franciscan friars and features the
canonically miraculous image of Our Lady of Candelaria,

The four (4) century-old stone church sits at the center of the town of Paracale in the !st District of
the province of Camarines Norte. The church has been a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the
province, which structure has withstood a long period of time amidst the natural and man-made calamities.

This bill, therefore, aims to declare the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria, in the
municipality of Paracale, Camarines Norte, a pilgrimage site and tourist destination, 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 Paracale, to come up with a comprehensive
development plan for the improvement of infrastructures near Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria,
and all roads leading to and from it.

The passage of this bill will also benefit the people of Paracale and the surrounding municipalities as
a possible source of livelihood derived from the influx of tourists who will pay homage to and visit the
Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria,

In view of the foregoing, the passage of ths bill is earnestly sought

HON. JOSEFINA B. TALLADO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 2672

Introduced by HON. JOSEFINA B. TALLADO

AN ACT DECLARING THE PARROQUIA DE NUESTRA SENORA DE CANDELARIA, IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF PARACALE, CAMARINES NORTE, AS A PILGRIMAGE SITE AND AS A TOURIST
DESTINATION, PROVIDING FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

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

SECTION 1. The Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria, in the municipality of Paracale,
Camarines Norte, is hereby declared a pilgrimage site and a tourist destination. As such, it shall be accorded
with priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concemed agencies subject to the
Tules and regulations governing the development of pilgrimage sites and tourist destinations

SECTION 2. The DOT, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (0PWH)
and other concemed agencies of the government shall, immediately after the effectivity of this Act, prepare
a development plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and
infrastructure that shall improve the overall feature ofthe area thereby ensuring the accessibility and security
of the pilgrims and tourists; Provided, that the said development plan shall ensure the preservation and
conservation of the historical significance of the area,

SECTION 3. The DOT and its attached agencies shall take immediate steps in implementing the
tourism development plan that will suit the needs of the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria, and
shall incorporate the same in its overall development plans and programs for national implementation.

SECTION 4. The DOT, in consultation withthe local government unit of Paracale, shall promulgate
the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act

SECTION 5. The Secretary of the DOT shall include in the Department's program the implementation
Of this Act, the funding of which shall be charges against the intemally generated funds of the Tourism
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) andlor the appropriations in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or
in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,