SEN. Manuel “Lito” Lapid yesterday urged his colleagues in the upper chamber to approve a measure which he filed on November last year seeking to declare the Quiapo district in Manila City as a National Heritage Zone.
Lapid made the pitch as the nation celebrated the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Monday.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1471, Lapid said it is but fitting for the Quiapo district to be declared as a National Heritage Zone due to its old infrastructures, rich culture, and for being the home to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, among others.
Other heritage sites in the district include the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian, Masjid Al-Dahab (the Manila Golden Mosque and Cultural Center), Plaza del Carmen, Plaza Miranda, Quinta Market, Calle Hidalgo, Padilla Art Gallery, Globo de Oro Street, and many historic homes, among others.
Lapid likewise noted other historic events, such as the Plaza Miranda bombing in the ‘70’s which has been mentioned in the country’s history books.
“The tale of Quiapo would fall short if we do not include discussions of its historic homes, the people who lived there, and the occasions that shaped Quiapo into the historical site that it is today. One of the largest collections of historic homes in the entire country may be found in Quiapo,” Lapid said in the proposed bill’s explanatory note.
“Quiapo has bore witness to many key events in our nation’s history and we will be remiss on our historical obligations to future generations of Filipinos if we let Quiapo fall into disrepair and fade into oblivion,” he added.
Lapid also said: “The taste of life, art, style, history, and tradition in this city is further enhanced by knowledge with the personal and social history of these homes. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to our national heritage to keep and preserve these historical structures.”
Lapid said the proposed bill seeks to provide a framework for Quiapo’s rehabilitation and establish opportunities to create a wide range of attractions from recreational facilities, retail options, and adventure opportunities while preserving its heritage and cultural integrity.
“This bill aims to produce significant value for our local and national economies and produce funds and legal safeguards to protect Quiapo as a Cultural Heritage Zone. The effectiveness of the development program, which will change investment activity, tourism growth, and land speculation, shall rely on the proper implementation of this bill,” he also said.
Under the proposed measure, the Quiapo Heritage Zone shall be accorded priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned departments and units and shall be subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of national heritage zones.
In coordination with the Manila City Government, the Heritage Zone shall also receive assistance, and funding from the DOT, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and its affiliated cultural agencies, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned agencies of the government subject to existing appropriate government rules and regulations.
Lapid’s proposal is “in response to the call of heritage conservationist and longtime residents of Quiapo to declare the district as a national cultural and heritage zone.”
The proposed bill remains pending in the committee level as of November last year.
