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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
312

House Bil No:

Introduced by Honorable Roilo Golez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

To pay homage to our national and cultural heritage is to keep alive the spirit and identity that all of us as
Filipinos share, establishing a sense of national pride essential to keep us on track especially in this era of
globalization

Section 13 of Republic Act 7160, the Local Government Code, authorizes local governments to change the
names of streets and other public places in consultation with the National Historical Institute, As guardian of
the cultural heritage the policy of the NHI is to preserve the original names.

Unfortunately, many of our streets names have been renamed without consultation from the National
Historical Institute, contrary to the said provisions of the Local Goverment Code. According to the NHI in
an article published in the 24 June 2007 issue of the Philippine Inquirer, some of these streets include
Arrocetos which is now Mayor Antonio Villegas Street; Aduana, now Andres Soriano Jr. Street,; Pepin, now
Marzan Street and Constancia now Cristobal Street.

Worse, some local government units even change the name of streets and other historic places over the
objections of the NHI. According to Carminda R. Arevalo, a Supervising History Researcher of the National
Historical Institute in an article published in the 23 September 2006 issue of the Manila Times that it has
been observed by the NHI that local govemments do not follow R.A. 7160 rigorously. Occasionally, an
ordinance is passed without consultation and a copy sent to the NHI. Other officials seek the NHI's opinion
but proceed with the renaming against the institute's objections, citing as example a city mayor who
renamed a school to honor his father even before consultation was made with the NHI adding that many
streets in the country have also been renamed without consulting NHI.

To tolerate changing the names of our streets without or over the objections of the NHI would be practically
the same as wiping out our cultural heritage for future generations, especially the children who would lose
their sense of history. Individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities deserve
recognition which can be done in many ways other than renaming a street in his or her honor.

Like old buildings and structures, old names of streets, avenues, boulevards, and plazas, and other public
places are part of our historical heritage. Each street bears an interesting narration of our past as recorded


in historic accounts or even famous literary works such as the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo of our
national hero Jose P. Rizal.

Street names are part of our cultural heritage and their usage makes them important. In Manila, certain
streets in the Sampaloc District exalted virtues such as Economia (economy), Trabajo, (industry) and
Lealtad, (loyalty). Trabajo in Sampaloc has been renamed M. de la Fuente and Lealtad, J. Fajardo.
However, because these names have been sanctified by usage, people sill refer to by their old names.
These names give us a glimpse and have been identified with the history of the place in which the streets
are located. But at the rate the requests for change of names are coming, time may come when Fllinos
would forget an important corner of their past.

To give life and effectiveness to the mandate of the NHI as guardian of our national and cultural heritage,

particularly in preserving the names of old and historic streets, the passage of this measure is eamestly
sought.

RO|LO GOLEZ


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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
i 312

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Roilo Golez

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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines Congress assembled:

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

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

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

(1) Component cities and municipalities, upon the recommendation of the Sanggunian concerned;
(2) Provincial roads, avenues, boulevards, thorough-fares, 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 Sanggunian 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, after prior consultation with and favorable recommendation from the National Historical
Institute (NHI), change the name of the following within its territorial jurisdiction:

(1) City Barangays, upon the recommendation of the Sangguniang Barangay concerned;

(2) City roads, avenues, boulevards, thorough fares, 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


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

(c) The Sanggunians of component cities and municipalities may, after prior consultation with and
favorable recommendation from the National Historical Institute (NHI), change the name of the
following within its territorial jurisdiction:

(1) city and municipal Barangays, upon recommendation of the Sangguniang Barangay concerned;
(2) city, municipal and Barangay roads, avenues, boulevards, thorough fares, 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

(6) any other public place or building owned by the municipal government.

(a) 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 by a unanimous vote of
the Sanggunian concemed and after prior consultation with and favorable recommendation from the
National Historical Institute (NHI).

(e) A change of name of a public school shall be made only upon the recommendation of the local schoo!
board concerned.

(f) A change of name of public hospitals, health centers, and other health facilities shall be made only upon
the recommendation of the local health board concemed.

(g) The change of name of any local government unit shall be effective only upon ratification in a plebiscite
conducted for the purpose in the political unit directly affected. In any change of name, the Office of the
President, the representative of the legislative district concemed, and the Bureau of Posts shall be notified.

Xxx"

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

SEC. 3. _Effectvity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,