Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill mirrors the same bill approved on third reading in the 19th Congress of the House 
of Representatives, transmitted to the Senate and subsequently deliberated on in February 2025.   
Atty. Vicente Garces Torres, Sr., was a former mayor of Ormoc City in 1954, appointed 
by Pres. Ramon Magsaysay, and an exemplary Ormocanon. Beyond his public service as mayor, 
he was a pillar of Ormoc’s local economy. He was one of the first to establish a private sugar 
plantation in Ormoc City before World War II. As a thriving sugar planter, he was able to provide 
livelihood to hundreds of Ormocanons. More importantly, he successfully cultivated the culture of 
giving back to society. He was, perhaps, Ormoc’s very first social entrepreneur, who instinctively 
brought in considerable employee benefits, as part of community-building efforts. 
He started off with giving employee incentives, awarding house and lot packages for well-
performing employees. Children of employees were provided free education. Family members in 
need of extra financing had the option to borrow money interest free.  
Don Vicente was a faithful and charitable member of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, who 
contributed significantly for the church’s upkeep. He also provided scholarships to boys whose 
parents could not afford to send them to the seminary. One of his most noteworthy contributions 
to Ormoc City is the subsidized sale of land to the Ormoc Sugar Planters Association (OSPA) 
August 4, 2025
5:50 pm
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Hospital, the city’s leading hospital to this day. He was a model of good citizenship, integrity, and 
generosity. It is with pride that one of the new roads will be named in his honor.  
In view of the foregoing, the early approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
AN ACT  
NAMING THE DIVERSION ROAD COMMENCING AT THE ORMOC-BAYBAY-SO. 
LEYTE BDRY ROAD IN BARANGAY BANTIGUE AND TRAVERSING BARANGAYS 
SUMANGGA, PATAG, DONGHOL, BILIBOY AND SAN PABLO UP TO THE 
DIVERSION JUNCTION AT THE PALO-CARIGARA-ORMOC ROAD IN THE CITY 
OF ORMOC, PROVINCE OF LEYTE, AS THE MAYOR VICENTE G. TORRES 
AVENUE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. The road commencing at the Ormoc-Baybay-So. Leyte Bdry Road in 
Barangay Bantigue and traversing barangays Sumangga, Patag, Donghol, Biliboy and San 
Pablo up to the diversion junction at the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road in the City of Ormoc, 
Province of Leyte, is hereby named as the Mayor Vicente G. Torres Avenue. 
SEC. 2. The Department of Public Works and Highways shall issue the necessary rules, 
orders, and circulars to implement this Act within thirty (30) days from its effectivity. 
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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