Senator Manuel ‘Lito’ Lapid is pushing for the measure that will declare the Quiapo District Zone in Manila as a National Historical Cultural Heritage Zone.
Lapid filed Senate Bill No. 1471 or Quiapo Heritage Zone 6 Act amid the celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene.
Under the bill, Lapid stated that Quiapo "has bore witness to many key events" in the nation's history.
"Dahil kinikilala natin ang kahalagahan ng Quiapo sa ating kultura at kasaysay, at di matatawarang ambag sa pambansang kaunlaran, dapat lamang ipakita ng pamahaiaan ang kanyang pagpapahalaga dito sa pamamagitan ng pagtatakda sa Distrito ng Quiapo biiang isang Historical and Cuitural Heritage Zone," he said.
The Senator also said that the measure was filed in "response to the call of heritage conservationists and longtime residents of Quiapo to declare the district as a historical and cultural heritage zone."
In SB 1471, Lapid proposed to declare the following built heritages in the Quiapo District Zone as National Historical Cultural Heritage Zone:
- Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene
- Minor Basilica of San Sebastian
- Masjid Al-Dahab, the Manila Golden Mosque, and Cultural Center
- Plaza del Carmen
- Plaza Miranda
- Quinta Market
- Nakpil-Bautista House
- Paterno House
- Zamora House
- Estrella House
- Genato House
- Zaragoza House
- Iturralde House (Casa Consulado)
- Ocampo-Santiago House
- Ocampo Pagoda Mansion
- Padilla Art Gallery
- Casa Boix (Teotico - Crespo House)
- La Electricista Site
- Calle Hidalgo
- Calle Arlegui
- Calle Bautista
- Calle Bilibid Viejo
- Calle de Guzman
- Globo de Oro Street
- Heritage sites in the historical and cultural 14 heritage zone
"We will be remiss on our historical obligations to future generations of Filipinos if we let Quiapo fall into disrepair and fade into oblivion," Lapid stressed.
In the proposed bill, the local government of Manila together with the Department of Tourism and its affiliated cultural agencies are mandated to prepare a comprehensive Quiapo Heritage Zone Development Plan.
"Within the year of the implementation of this Act and each fiscal year thereafter, the City Government of Manila shall render an annual report to both houses of Congress," the measure reads.
