MANILA, Philippines - Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Gina de Venecia is urging Congress to declare the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag a pilgrimage site and tourist destination.
De Venecia has filed House Bill 4481, which seeks to mandate the Department of Tourism (DOT) to come up with a comprehensive development plan for the improvement of the Manaoag Shrine, all areas attached to it, and all roads leading to and from it.
She said Our Lady of Manaoag is one of the most venerated Marian images in the country and its feast is among the most highly celebrated events in the Philippines. The basilica is regarded as the pilgrim center of the north, she added.
“Millions of pilgrims visit the basilica every year, and the number of visitors continues to increase. The shrine continues to entice visitors not just from our country but from many parts of the world, making it one of the most visited places in the Philippines,” she said.
According to De Venecia, the history of Our Lady of Manaoag can be traced back to the 1600s when a Spanish priest named Padre Juan de San Jacinto brought the image to the country.
From then on, she said Our Lady of Manaoag has served to become a refuge to many devotees who have wished to establish a deeper and more personal relationship with the Virgin Mary.
“For many centuries, the image of the Our Lady of Manaoag has remained intact and undamaged after having survived a series of threats ranging from mere pressure from non-Catholics to complete church destruction due to revolutions, which many of its followers considered as a mystery,” she said.
She added that on June 21, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI approved the granting of the special bond of spiritual affinity in perpetuity affiliating the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome to the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag, a first in the Philippines.
“This gives the pilgrims the assurance of the same plenary indulgence equal to that received when visiting a papal basilica in Rome. Shortly after, the shrine was elevated into a minor basilica on July 22, 2011 calling it the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag,” she added.
Her bill tasks the DOT to coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways and other concerned agencies to prepare a developmental plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure to improve the overall feature of the area, ensuring the accessibility and security of the pilgrims and tourists.
It allocates an initial funding of P200 million for the improvement of the shrine, its facilities and roads leading to and from it.