REPRESEN

Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES I Reon
Quezon City a DATE: ok
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS \ a

First Regular Session

House Bill No, 83982

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.

AN ACT

EXTENDING THE CORPORATE LIFE OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL RAILWAYS
(P.N.R.) BY ANOTHER TWENTY FIVE (25) YEARS, AMENDING FOR THIS
PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 741, AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4156, ENTITLED “AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE
NATIONAL RAILWAYS, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND DUTIES
AND PROVIDING FOR THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR ITS OPERATION, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO, 6366.”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine National Railways, otherwise known as PNR, was established by
virtue of Republic Act No. 4156, It is a state-owned company and an attached agency of
the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). It presently operates a
commuter rail service in Metro Manila and the Bicol region through the Bicol Express
(South Rail) which runs on a daily basis between Manila and Naga City, considered the
heart of Bicol.

For almost six decades, the PNR provided dependable, reliable and reasonably
affordable fare in transporting people and goods. This made the PNR a strategic
backbone and an impetus of economic activity between Metro Manila and the Bicol
region but ceased operation in 1993 after several calamities hit the country, more so in
the Southern Luzon area. Since then, there have been efforts in restoring it to its former
glory until 2009, when partial rehabilitation was implemented and the first train to
traverse the South Rail once again resumed operation

But the on-going rehabilitation and modernization of PNR lines and stations face
an uphill climb since the PNR Charter is set to expire this 2013, If not renewed and
extended, PNR will cease to operate and further deprive the Bicol region of a cheap
form of transportation, the South Rail being an indispensable ingredient in sustaining
trade and industry in this part of the country. Furthermore, it will be detrimental for the
country if one major source of mass transportation is discontinued

In light of the reasons cited above, expeditious passage of this bill into law is
earnestly requested.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO,
2 District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

3582

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT

EXTENDING THE CORPORATE LIFE OF THE PHILIPPNE NATIONAL RAILWAYS
(P.N.R.) BY ANOTHER TWENTY FIVE YEARS (25) YEARS, AMENDING FOR THIS
PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 741, AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4156, ENTITLED “AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE
NATIONAL RAILWAYS, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND DUTIES
AND PROVIDING FOR THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR ITS OPERATION, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6366”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No, 4156, as amended by Republic Act
No, 6366, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 1. Name, Duration and Docile. A Corporation to serve as instrumentality of
the Government of the Philippines in providing a nationwide railroad and transportation
system is hereby created to be known as the Philippine National Railways which shall
exist for a term of fifty (50) years WITH AN EXTENSION OF ANOTHER TWENTY (25)
FIVE YEARS from the date of approval of this Act. It shall have its main office in the
City of Manila, and shall have such branches and agencies within the Philippines as
may be necessary for the proper conduct of its business. This Corporation shall be
under the Office of the President.”

SECTION 2. Separability Clause. — If any provision or Section of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to,
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,