THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to declare February 17 of every year as a special working holiday in Southern Leyte to pay tribute to the victims of the Guinsaugon landslide in 2006.

House Bill 8948, authored by Southern Leyte Representative Roger Mercado, intends to pay tribute to the 1,126 people who died in the landslide, which took place in Barangay Guinsaugon, St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte on February 17, 2006.

The landslide occurred around 10:35 a.m. of February 17 when a rain soaked portion of Mount Kan-abag overlooking Barangay Guinsaugon collapsed. The entire village was buried.

If House Bill 8948 is enacted into law, February 17 of every year in Southern Leyte will be named as "Guinsaugon Day."

Mercado said the bill also aims to remind the public about its duty to protect the environment.

“The passage of this bill will serve as a reminder not only to the residents living in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte but for the whole nation that we need to take care of our environment to avoid another ill-fated catastrophe. The remaining survivors of this tragedy surely will remember the most painful day that happened in their lives,” he said.

Mercado's co-authors of the bill are Representatives Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (Pangasinan, 6th District), Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado (Bulacan, First District), and John Marvin Nieto (Manila, Third District, Manila).

The measure was already transmitted by the House to the Senate. (LMY/With PR/SunStar Philippines)