Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
_________ Regular Session 
Begun and held in Metro Manila on _________, the _____________ day of ______, two 
thousand and twenty 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Ambrosio “Boy” C. Cruz, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Municipality of Guiguinto was formerly only a barrio of Bulakan, but it has 
now blossomed into a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan. Among its many 
laudable hallmarks, Guiguinto has built its reputation in the plant industry. Guiguinto 
has been dubbed as the “Garden Capital of the Philippines”.    
It was in 1999 when the Halamanan Festival was first celebrated to recognize 
Guiguinto’s patron, St. Ildephonsus (San Ildefonso). Up to today, the Halamanan Festival 
is celebrated every January 22nd of each year. Tourists, local and foreign, now look 
forward to one of the most colorful parades in the country where the unique and various 
ornamental plants of Guiguinto are shown off. The Halamanan Festival is not only a 
display of the various flora in Guiguinto, but it is an avenue for the public to become 
acquainted with the sound agricultural practices of the ornamental plant growers of 
Guiguinto such as cutting, marcotting, and grafting.   
As Guiguinto continues to gain attention for its plant industry, it is important for 
the government to support its growth by allowing the ornamental plant growers to fully 
feel the results of their hard work and for the public, especially the youth, to extensively 
appreciate the beauty and blessings of such industry during this time.  
August 30, 2022
1:58 pm
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Accordingly, it is proper to declare the Halamanan Festival of the Municipality of 
Guiguinto as a major tourist attraction and declare therefor January 22 of every year as a 
special non-working holiday in Guiguinto. Such declaration would bring great honor and 
pride to the people of Guiguinto and the Province of Bulacan as a whole.  
 
For the constituents of the Municipality of Guiguinto, the passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AMBROSIO “BOY” C. CRUZ, JR. 
Representative, Fifth District of Bulacan 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
____________ Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Ambrosio “Boy” C. Cruz, Jr. 
AN ACT DECLARING THE HALAMANAN FESTIVAL OF THE MUNICIPALITY 
OF GUIGUINTO, PROVINCE OF BULACAN A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION, 
AND DECLARING FOR THAT PURPOSE JANUARY 22 OF EVERY YEAR A 
SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF GUIGUINTO 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES  
 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 “Guiguinto Halamanan 
Festival Act”.  
Section 2. Guiguinto Halamanan Festival – The Halamanan Festival of the 
Municipality of Guiguinto, Province of Bulacan is hereby declared a major tourist 
attraction. The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall include the Halamanan Festival in its 
National Tourism Development Plan. 
Section 3. Special Non-working Holiday – The Halamanan Festival, which is 
celebrated every January 22 of every year, is hereby declared a special non-working 
holiday in the entire Municipality of Guiguinto, Province of Bulacan. 
Section 4. Tourism Development and Promotion Plan– Within six (6) months from the 
approval of this Act, the DOT shall prepare a tourism development and promotion plan 
for the Halamanan Festival, in coordination with the with the Tourism Infrastructure and 
Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and other concerned agencies of the government. The 
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said tourism development and promotion plan shall consist, among others, the 
construction, installation, and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and 
infrastructure that shall encourage tourism in the area: Provided, that such plan shall 
promote the environmental and economic underpinnings of the festival.  
 
Section 5. Coordination with the DOT – The DOT shall take prompt action towards 
the implementation of the tourism development and promotion plan under the preceding 
Section. The said plan shall form part of the DOT’s overall tourism development 
programs for the succeeding year following the effectivity of this Act.  
 
Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOT shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations 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. 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,