INAPRUBAHAN ng Kamara de Representantes sa ikatlong at huling pagbasa ang panukala na ideklara ang Balangay bilang National Boat ng bansa.
Sa botong 170-0, pasado na ang panukala na akda ni Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun.
“The boat was used by Filipino ancestors to maintain trade relations with neighboring islands around the country and empires around Southeast Asia,” ani Fortun. “It demonstrates early Filipino boat-building genius and seamanship expertise during the pre-colonial times.”
Sinabi ni Fortun na ang Balangay ang patunay ng pagiging malikhain ng sinaunang Pilipino.
May nakuhang labi ng Balangay sa Butuan City. “It is a finely built boat designed for long-distance navigation made without the use of blueprints. It is known as the oldest watercraft found in the Philippines.”
Ayon kay Fortun, hindi lamang sa museo dapat manatili ang kahalagahan ng Balangay kundi maging sa puso at isip ng mga Pinoy.
“This early approval on third and final reading is most fitting and most timely in that it came right in time for the launch of the 500-day countdown to the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Victory in Mactan and the First Circumnavigation of the World in 2021,” dagdag pa ni Fortun.