By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Hon. Matt Palabrica is the principal author of “Province of Iloilo Bible Ordinance.”

The Province of Iloilo, Philippines has institutionalized every Monday after the flag-raising ceremony as “Bible Time” and the last week of January of every year as “Bible Week” through an SP Resolution No. 2023-176 authored by Hon. Matt P. Palabrica. The 14th Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Iloilo enacted the resolution on March 7, 2023 and it became Provincial Ordinance No. 2023-292. It was subsequently approved by the Governor of Iloilo Hon. Arthur R. Defensor Jr.

The ordinance’s rationale states that the celebration of National Bible Week has been the subject of four Presidential Proclamations – “namely: Proclamation No. 2242 (Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos), Declaring the Celebration of National Bible Week Every Year; Proclamation No. 44 (Pres. Corazon Aquino), Declaring Every Last Week of January of Every Year as National Bible Week; Presidential Proclamation No. 1067 (Pres. Fidel V. Ramos) Affirming Last Week of January as National Bible Week; and Proclamation No. 124 (Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte) Declaring the Month of January of Every Year as National Bible Month Culminating in the Last Week Thereof as National Bible Week;”

The Ordinance states its purpose and practice on Section 3 and 4:

“Section 3. Purpose. The regular Bible reading and prayer will enable all staff and employees, students and faculty members to have a moment of reflection that will enhance their moral and spiritual growth which would eventually lead to a better attitude and commitment toward their daily life and field of work.”

“Section 4. Practice. Every after flag raising ceremony, staff and workers of the Iloilo Provincial Government, as well as, of the government agencies in the province, including government owned schools and institutions, government owned and controlled corporations, component municipalities and city are to observe the conduct of a reflective Bible reading.”

Moreover, the last Monday of January and the last week of January of every year shall be declared as Province of Iloilo Bible Day and Bible Week, respectively. The ordinance shall take effect immediately.

Hon. Matt P. Palabrica, a member of the CPU Board of Trustees Member and Iloilo 3rd District Representative, authored the ordinance. He is a graduate of the CPU College of Agriculture and a multi-awarded Mayor of the Municipality of Bingawan, Iloilo.

Hon. Rolando B. Distura co-authored the ordinance, while Hon. June S. Mondejar sponsored it together with Hon. Binky April M. Tupas who is a co-sponsor.