Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4247
HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSE “PINGPING” I. TEJADA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill which seeks to establish a new district engineering office in the Province of
Cotabato was originally introduced as House Bill 5071 by the undersigned Jose “Pingping” |.
Tejada in the Seventeenth (17) Congress. It was promptly approved by the House of
Representatives during the 1* Regular Session and thereafter transmitted to the Senate
where it regretfully failed to pass due to lack of material time.

With Seventeen (17) Municipalities and One (1) City, the Province of Cotabato is
presently being served by only two engineering district offices, this set-up has had
tremendous effect on the delayed delivery of important public infrastructure programs and
projects particularly in the six municipalities comprising the 3 Congressional district.

The undersigned believes that all Department’s/Agencies of the National
Government should “reflect” and facilitate the full devolution of government services as
provided for in the Local Government Code of 1991 and other related legal issuances. In the
case of the Province of Cotabato which has two existing DEO’s covering seventeen
municipalities and one city, the creation of an additional DEO will provide a more
geographical approach, as the expanse of the current geographical area of the existing
DEO’s are very wide. Thus, reflecting further devolution of government services.

Decades of conflict has slowed down the socioeconomic growth of many provinces
in Mindanao—North Cotabato included—however, the tide has changed since the
assumption of President Duterte, with the historic enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic
Law, new corridors of economic and development opportunities has opened. With stable
peace and order situation we could expect the opening of new roads connecting North
Cotabato to other parts of Mindanao, it is hoped that in the next three years, conversion of
new national road networks will take place, effectively increasing the current road length of
existing DEO’s including the proposed 3" DEO. The creation of a third DEO in the Province of
Cotabato will be an investment for the future, a worthy investment that will prove to be
beneficial to all parties in the long run.


With the passage of this Bill, the Cotabato 3" District Engineering Office will be able
to provide a more integrated, comprehensive and quality public infrastructure and
maintenance services in its area of coverage. Furthermore, the establishment of this DEO
will reduce the coverage area of the other already existing DEO’s thus, ensuring
conscientious delivery of public infrastructure services in the Province of Cotabato.

Hence the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

J

JOSE i” 1. TEJADA.
3° District, Province of Cotabato


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.4= 4°

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSE “PINGPING” I. TEJADA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE THIRD DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
MATALAM, PROVINCE OF NORTH COTABATO AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. There shalll be established, under the supervision of the Department of Public
Works and Highways, a third district engineering office to be located in the Municipality of
Matalam, Province of North Cotabato to be known as the North Cotabato Third District
Engineering Office.

Section 2. The said district engineering office shall comprise the municipalities of
Banisilan, Carmen, Kabacan, Matalam, Mlang and Tulunan, all in the Third Congressional
District of the Province of Cotabato.

Section 3. The Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall include in the
Department's program the operationalization of the North Cotabato Third District
Engineering Office, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved