Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1257

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND EF VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 17 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of the
Philippines lists the responsibilities of local government units (LGUs), including the
construction and maintenance of municipal, city, and provincial roads that are funded
by the LGUs’ coffers. It is through these local roads that trade thrives, and social
services flow. They are the bane and boon of our economic growth. Hence, the bill
seeks to ensure an equitable distribution of road infrastructure in the Philippines, and
an efficient system of construction, maintenance, and repairs of roads in all parts of
the country - especially in the peripheries.

The current laws provide that all roads connecting cities and municipalities
without traversing national roads as well as those connecting national roads to
barangays through rural areas (provincial roads); roads within towns and those that
provide inter-barangay connections to major municipal and city infrastructure without
traversing provincial roads (municipal and city roads); and other public roads within
barangays (barangay roads) are constructed and maintained by each LGU.

This arrangement has resulted to regional disparities in infrastructure brought
about by various factors — primarily geographical, economic, and political. For
example, studies have revealed that centers like the National Capital Region (NCR)
do not only have the longest combined road lengths, but also have abundant concrete
roads while peripheral areas suffer from insufficient and subpar gravel or unpaved
roads’.

Likewise, there are different government agencies handling different kinds of
Toad projects: the Department of Agriculture handles the Farm to Market Roads, the

+ https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/de60/2c6711cfdd0333592595 26ec4Ofatecd9fAab.pdf


Department of Interior and Local Government handles the Kalsada Program, the Road
Board also handles a few road projects and so on and so forth.

The bill therefore proposes the creation of the National Local Roads
Development Bureau (NLRDB) under the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH). Through the NLRDB, the bill aims to reduce the adverse effects of local
political patronage on the country's road infrastructure, and streamline the overall
development of our road networks. It shall effectively place in one body the
responsibility of examining local roads, identifying problem areas, and designing a
master plan that is not only cohesive, but also equitably and fairly distributes resources
among regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays for truly inclusive
economic growth.

The critical role of our local roads for growth and poverty reduction is
emphasized by the fact that the Philippines has more than 170,000 kilometers of local
roads compared to just 32,000 kilometers of national roads. The benefits of an
excellent rural road network cannot be overemphasized. At the outset, it will reduce
the costs of transporting passengers, goods, and services from one place to the other
- immediately stimulating trade and business. Over time, a good transportation
network could also help address the congestion in city centers by inspiring the
migration of employees and workers from the cities to nearby rural areas.

As stated in a Paper entitled Local Roads for Economic Growth by Gilberto M.
Llanto for Philippine Institute for Development Studies, “An important dimension of
transport infrastructure is the network of roads that provide a physical link to various
communities in urban and rural areas with outside markets. A good network of roads
at the local level is indispensable in the timely movement of people and transport of
goods with low transaction costs. Good local road infrastructure is correlated not only
with local economic growth but also instrumental with poverty reduction as shown by
several studies.”

We humbly reiterate the need to centralize the efforts and resources required
in the development of our local roads in one body - the National Local Roads
Development Bureau (NLRDB). In consideration of the foregoing premises, the
passage of this bill is urgently sought.

toh

LUIS R; UND “| Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1257

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL LOCAL ROADS DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
(NLRDB), PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the National Local Roads
Development Act of 2018.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
pursue a more equitable distribution of opportunities and government services to all
Filipinos in all sectors and regions for a truly inclusive economic growth and social
engagement.

It is also the policy of the State to ensure the efficient and judicious use of the public
funds, and the prudent and timely completion of government projects

Itis likewise the policy of the State to develop an extensive web of quality roads that
meet global infrastructure, environmental and safety standards for the benefit of all
Filipinos.

Section 3. Objectives. - This Act specifically intends to achieve the following
objectives:

@) To create a body that shall develop one local roads development master plan

which provides guidelines for the identification, construction, and maintenance

of local roads all over the country;
To establish a harmonious, extensive and quality road infrastructure that
efficiently and safely links all kinds of roads from barangay, municipal, city,
provincial to national thereby improving the overall mobility of individuals and
transport of goods;
To rehabilitate or improve existing local roads, especially those that are
unpaved, graveled, or just earth roads;
d) To oversee the maintenance of all local roads;

b)

°)


€) To bolster economic vitality, especially in rural areas, by reducing the average
travel time of individuals and goods from all sectors thereby reducing
production costs and improving productivity;

f) Toenhance the quality of life of Filipinos, especially in rural areas, through safe,
quality, disaster-resistant, and environmental-friendly road networks; and

9) To ensure the efficient implementation of local road development projects, as
well as the judicious use of government funds duly allotted therein.

Section 4. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
be used as:

) Road ~ a limited highway and other routes used for public traffic;

b) Local roads ~ provincial, city or municipal, and barangay roads;

©) Sidewalk — a road section demarcated with curb lines or fences, or any other
similar structures in order to make such part available for the passage of
pedestrians;

@) Roadway — a road section demarcated with curb lines or fences, or any other
similar structures or road markings in order to make such part available for the
passage of vehicles;

) Main roadway — a roadway consisting of the main lanes of a national
expressway of a limited highway;

f) Vehicle - a motor vehicle, motor-bicycle, light road vehicle, or trolleybus;

9) Motor vehicle - a vehicle that employs a motor, the driving of which does not
require the presence of rails or overhead wires; this definition does not include
motor-bicycles, bicycles and wheelchairs for persons with physical disabilities;

h) Secretary ~ the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways;

i) Department - Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Section 5. Creation of the National Local Roads Development Bureau. ~ There is
hereby created a NATIONAL LOCAL ROADS DEVELOPMENT BUREAU (NLRDB)
under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which shall be the
Primary authority of the government in charge of the development and construction of
all local roads across the country. The Bureau shall be empowered to perform the
following functions:

a) To plan, design and supervise the construction of local roads, intended to
be classified as motorways and main roads;

b) To carry out or cause to be carried out the upgrading of motorways and
main roads and their routine and periodic maintenance;

©) To maintain existing bridges, tunnels and associated works on motorways
and local roads;

d) To plan, design and supervise the construction and reconstruction of
bridges, tunnels and associated works on motorways and local roads;

€) To advise the Secretary on the formulation of a local road development
policy;

f) To advise the Secretary on the management policy of local roads;

g) To prepare and implement road development schemes:

h) To conduct and coordinate research and investigation on materials required
for road construction;

i) To control the display of advertisements along or visible from motorways
and main roads;


j) To regulate undertakers’ works in relation to motorways and main roads.

Section 6. Composition. - The National Local Roads Development Bureau (NLRDB)
shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Public Works
and Highways, and shall receive the monthly compensation and benefits received by
an Assistant Cabinet Secretary

The composition and size of the personnel of the National Local Roads Development
Bureau (NLRDB) shall be determined by the Director of the Bureau, including its
presence in the Regional Offices of the Department.

The Director of the Bureau shall, upon consultation with the Civil Service Commission
and upon approval of the Secretary, shall determine the salary of the Deputy
Director/s.

All other employees of the Bureau shall receive compensation in accordance with the
Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

Section 7. inter-agency Convergence Programs. - The Bureau may coordinate with
other government departments, agencies, and offices, upon approval of the Secretary,
to develop convergence programs to address the concems of economic sectors and
local government units (LGUs).

Every convergence program shall be headed and executed by the Bureau from its
commencement to completion. The convergence programs shall cover the
identification, evaluation and prioritization of critical access roads for the general
commuting public in the rural areas, and in support of economic sectors with
recognized significant contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP).

Allexisting and valid convergence programs of the Department with other government
departments, offices and agencies involving road development in rural areas shall
immediately be turned over to the Bureau for review and project assessment within 60
days from the effectivity of this Act

The Director shall be the primary DPWH representative to oversee the completion of
all existing local road projects upon the passage of this Act.

Section 8. Private Sector Engagement. — The Bureau is authorized to engage with
the private sector in the development of rural roads. Such engagement may include,
but is not limited to, consultation, planning, development of road infrastructure
Programs, funding, and construction; Provided that all engagements of the Bureau
with any party that is not an instrumentality or agency of the government shall be with
the written approval of the Secretary.

Section 9. Policy Guidelines and Project Supervision. — The Bureau shall create and
publish the National Local Roads System (NLRS) within twelve (12) months from
approval of the preliminary composition of the NLRDB. The Director shall create a
Committee for the Guidelines to be composed of the following:

a) Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);


b) Secretary, Department of Tourism (DOT);

c) Secretary, Department of Agriculture (DA);

d) Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

e) Secretary, Department of Transportation (DoT!);

f) Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);

g) President, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP);

h) Dean, University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning; and
i) A Representative from the Private Sector

The NLRS must be of national scope, comprehensive, and subject to mandatory
annual review.

Section 10. Implementation. — Six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act, the
President shall appoint the Director of the NLRDB with the recommendation of the
Secretary.

@) The newly-appointed Director shall appoint two (2) Deputy Directors with the
approval of the Secretary, forming the NLRDB Executive Committee
(ExeComm).

b) The ExeComm shall present for approval the preliminary composition, including
the job description, and compensation and other benefits package of the
NLRDB within six (6) months from the appointment of the Director. The
composition is subject to the approval of the President upon the
recommendation of the Secretary.

°)

The ExeComm is hereby tasked to formulate the Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) of this Act within six (6) months from the approval by the
President of the preliminary NLRDB composition, but not later than twelve (12)
months from the effectivity of this Act.

Section 11. Monitoring and Assessment. - The NLRB is hereby tasked to formulate
and maintain the following reportorial requirements to be submitted to the Secretary
and the President:

@) National Local Roads System (NLRS): a biennial comprehensive report
mapping out the entire national and local road network, upon consultation with
local government units and in partnership with private organizations. The NLRS
shall allow for the clear identification of sites and sections that are in particular
need of improvement, fixing, or development. The NLRS shall include a specific
plan of action to address such sections and areas that need countermeasures.
Additionally, it is envisioned that the NLRS shall include in the road networks
those local roads that are currently under construction and/or with completion
date of three (3) years from the publication of the NLRS

b)

Annual Bureau Accomplishment Report (AAR): an annual report providing an
overview of what has been achieved by the Bureau in the past year with regard
to the deliverables set


Section 12. Appropriation and Financing. — The Bureau is hereby allotted PhP 1 billion
pesos (PhP 1,000,000,000.00) for the first year of its operations, subject to the review
of the Secretary upon submission of the AAR.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act shall be
declared invalid or unconstitutional, such shall not invalidate any other section or
provision of this Act.

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, or parts
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in a major daily newspaper of national circulation
whichever comes earlier.

Approved,