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Republic of the Philippines >» RECEIVE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 7 ECEIVED

Quezon City, Metro Manila O2 WL 2014 &
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS a:
Second Regular Session ‘a
House Bill No. 4708

Introduced by Rep, EVELIO R. LEONARDIA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), under Republic Act
No. 10086, is the primary government agency responsible for history and it has the authority
to determine all factual matters relating to official Philippine history. Under Section 13 of
R.A. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the National Historical
Institute, now renamed as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, local
government units may, in consultation with the NHCP, change the name of streets, roads,
schools, health facilities or any other public place or building within their territorial
jurisdiction. Consonant to the said law, the NHCP has provided guidelines in changing the
names of streets, roads, schools, health facilities or any other public place or building within
the territorial jurisdiction of the local government units concemed. The guidelines reiterate
the need for a local government unit to consult with the NHCP prior to changing names of
streets, roads, etc.

The term “consultation” however, in the strict sense of the word, only denotes an act
of seeking to discuss with or to elicit advice from an expert, Thus, it may be inferred that the
provision of R.A. 7160 only requires the act of seeking advice from the NHCP but it does not
require the local government unit to comply with the regulations or guidelines it may impose.

In an article published in the 23 September 2006 issue of the Manila Times, Carminda
R. Arevalo, Supervising History Researcher of the National Historical Institute, reported
NHCP’s observation that local government units fail to strictly follow R.A. 7160. Many
street names around the nation have been changed without consultation with the NHCP,
contrary to the said provision of the Local Government Code of 1991.

‘The failure to comply with the said law and the lack of the favorable recommendation
of the NHCP render inutile the mandate of the latter to protect our history and culture,
Moreover, future generations stand to lose their sense of history with the unbridled changes
made by local government units absent the positive action of the NHCP.

As such, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought in order to give meaning and
effectivity to the mandate of the NHCP of preserving our national and cultural heritage.

Aa

Rep. EVELIO R. LEONARDIA.
Lone District of Bacolod


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 4708

Introduced by Rep. EVELIO R. LEONARDIA.

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO, 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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

SECTION 1. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7160 known as the Local Government
Code of 1991 is hereby amended as follows:

“SECTION 13. Naming of Local Government Units and Public Places, Streets and
Structures.

(a) The Sangguniang Panlalawigan may, after prior consultation with and with
the favorable recommendation of the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines (NHCP), change the name of the following within its
territorial jurisdiction:

(1) Component cities and municipalties, upon the recommendation of the
sanggunian concerned;

(2) Provincial roads, avenues, boulevards, thoroughfares, and bridges,

(3) Public vocational or technical schools and other post-secondary and
tertiary schools;

(4) Provincial hospitals, health centers, and other health facilities; and

(5) Any other public place or building owned by the provincial government,

(b) The Sanggunians of highly urbanized cities and of component cities whose
charters prohibit their voters from voting for provincial elective officials,
hereinafter referred to in this Code as independent component cities, may,

ior consultation with and with the favorable recomm
the NHCP, change the name of the following

(1) City barangays, upon the recommendation of the sangguniang barangay
concemed;

(2) City roads, avenues, boulevards, thoroughfares, and bridges;

(3) Public elementary, secondary and vocational or technical schools,
community colleges and non-chartered colleges;

(4) City hospitals, health centers, and other health facilities; and


(5) Any other public place or building owned by the city government.

(©) The cee of component cities and municipalities may, after prior
and with the favoral ymendation of the NHCP,
change = ‘name of the following within its territorial jurisdiction:

(1) City and municipal barangays, upon recommendation of the sangguniang
barangay concemed;

(2) City, municipal and barangay roads, avenues, boulevards, thoroughfares,
and bridges;

(3) City and municipal public elementary, secondary and vocational or
technical schools, post-secondary and other tertiary schools;

(4) City and municipal hospitals, health centers and other health facilities; and

(5) Any other public place or building owned by the municipal government.

(d) None of the foregoing local government units, institutions, places, or buildings
shall be named after a living person, nor may a change of name be made
unless for a justifiable reason and, in any case, not oftener than once every ten
(10) years. The name of a local government unit or a public place, street or
structure with historical, cultural, or ethnic significance shall not be changed,
unless after_prior consultation with and _with the _ favorable
recommendation of the NHCP and by a unanimous vote of the Sanggunian
concerned.

(©) xxx
(f) xxx
(g) 20x
(h) 200"

SECTION 2. All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or any part thereof
inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,