Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No_7346

Introduced by HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Infrastructure development has been the centerpiece of this administration's
economic development program, ushering in the “Golden Age of Infrastructure”. The
International Monetary Fund (IMF)! reported that public infrastructure investment
increased from an average of 3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) during
2011 to 2016, to 5.1 percent in 2018, with a projected investment up to 6 percent of GDP
by 2022. Despite the ongoing increase in government spending on infrastructure, we are
still behind in the Global Competitive Index infrastructure assessment.

Boosting infrastructure development remains crucial in recovering from
economic setback, especially with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the
economy and the livelihood of our agricultural and tourism sectors. Building roads and
bridges improve access to goods and services, reduce prices due to lesser transportation
costs, and attract more investments as economic opportunities become distributed in
many areas in the country.

In response to the increasing need to improve infrastructure, a four-lane
superhighway shall be constructed to link South Luzon Expressway, through the Toll
Road 4 extension project, to the San Andres Port in San Andres, Quezon which serves as
a point of entry for those coming from the Southern Luzon islands and Visayas to the

' International Monetary Fund. 06 February 2020. Philippines : 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press
Release; and Staff Report. Retrieved from

hitps://www.imforg/~/media/Files/ Publications /CR/2020/English/1PHLEA2020001 ashx


Luzon island. The San Andres Superhighway shall cut travel time from Lucena City to
the Municipality of San Andres by half, making travel to the port only two hours by car.
With the TR- project, it will only take at least 3 hours from Metro Manila to reach San
Andres port and board a RoRo.

This will also create a domino effect on infrastructure development as the
increased volume of passengers and cargo will necessarily push for the expansion and
improvement of the various ports in the country and the roads leading to those ports.
Easing access to ports, in turn, will support the establishment of provinces as new
centers of economic development in the country. In sum, this will contribute and serve
as an impetus for inclusive rural growth.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ
Representative
Third District, Quezon Province


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No._7346

Introduced by HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAN ANDRES
SUPERHIGHWAY, EASING TRAVEL FROM LUCENA CITY TO SAN ANDRES.
PORT IN SAN ANDRES, QUEZON, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote
optimum development among its regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities.

SEC. 2. Creation of the Superhighway. - There is hereby created the San Andres
Superhighway which shall be financed, constructed, operated, and maintained by a
grantee, offeror, consortium or proponent, under and by virtue of Republic Act No
6957, as amended by Republic Act No. 7718, otherwise known as the Build-Operate-
Transfer (BOT) Law. The 134-kilometer four-lane superhighway shall connect to the
terminus of the Pagbilao by-pass road in Barangay Ikirin, Pagbilao to San Andres Port
in the Municipality of San Andres, Quezon. The San Andres Superhighway shall
facilitate ease of travel from the South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (SLEX-TR4)
which shall end in Lucena, Quezon (Proposed TR4 Extension) to San Andres Port.

SEC. 3. Implementing Agency. - The Department of Public Works and Highways

shall be the lead implementing agency for this Act.


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SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to defray the cost of the
undertaking and completing the feasibility study for this project and other activities
relative thereto shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this Act, the DPWH shall, in consultation with the stakeholders, formulate
and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared
invalid or unconstitutional, no other provision hereof shall be thereby affected.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and
memoranda inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.