Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 3) — Ilocos Sur Rep. Bonito Singson is pushing for the creation of a monument for the revolutionary hero Diego Silang.
During the hearing for the proposed 2022 budget of the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday, Singson revealed that he is mulling to file the “Diego Silang bill” to honor the Ilocano revolutionary leader, who led a movement against the Spanish forces.
“I will be proposing that Diego Silang will be recognized as one of our national heroes,” he said.
“He can be considered as the first revolutionary when he started the first Philippine revolt in 1762…How can the Secretary help us to make this proposal into fruition?” he added, referring to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
Romulo-Puyat said the DOT is ready to support the proposal to honor Silang.
“We will be working with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NHCP) so we will be supporting the bill,” she said.
Singson again mentioned his proposal during the second round of interpellation.
“Will the DOT be able to allocate some funds for the proposed Diego Silang statue [so] it will become a tourist spot again and [will be] complete with history within Vigan?” he asked.
“This will be the same area where he had his headquarters in his revolt,” the lawmaker added. “Can the department help us in the funding or help us in designing the complex?”
Romulo-Puyat said the DOT has no budget for infrastructure projects. She explained that the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has no available funds to support these projects due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Wala pong pondo ang TIEZA ngayon (Currently, TIEZA has no funds) but we could submit this to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines kasi may budget sila (because they have a budget) for monuments,” she said. “We will endorse this to the NHCP.”
