Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The lack of a safe and efficient mass transport system in Eastern Visayas hampers its 
competitiveness as one of the country’s premier tourism destinations, as well as its 
overall economic contribution to national development. 
This measure establishes the Eastern Visayan Railroad, a railway system which connects 
the emerging growth centers of the Regions Eight in the provinces of Samar, Leyte, and 
Southern Leyte. It seeks to stimulate tourism activity and economic growth in the region 
by making it faster and easier to travel from one regional destination to the other. 
Given the right infrastructure support, the Eastern Visayas Region would be able to fully 
achieve its potential to be a tourism gem of the country. 
Thus, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
Representative, Second District of Southern Leyte 
August 2, 2022
6:00 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RAILWAY SYSTEM IN THE 
EASTERN VISAYAS REGION FROM THE ENTRY OF THE PROVINCE OF 
SAMAR TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN RICARDO IN THE PROVINCE OF 
SOUTHERN LEYTE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. – Act shall be known as the “Eastern Visayan Railroad Act 
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of 2022” 
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SEC 2. 
Establishment of the Railway System. – There shall be established a 
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railway system in the Eastern Visayan Region under the administration of 
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the Philippine National Railways (PNR), connecting the provinces of 
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Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte from the entry of the Province of Samar 
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to the Municipality of San Ricardo, Province of Southern Leyte. 
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SEC. 3. 
Route, Alignment, Safety and Efficiency of the Railway System. – The 
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Department of Transportation (DoTr), in coordination with the 
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Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Philippine 
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National Railways (PNR), shall undertake a comprehensive study of the 
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Visayan Railway System to determine the most feasible and optimal route, 
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taking into consideration the agro-industrial, tourism and ecozone 
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potentials of the concerned provinces to be serviced by the railroad. The 
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said departments and agency shall also conduct and immediate technical 
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study on the safety, efficiency and resiliency of the railway system, 
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including the preparation of the necessary land surveys for areas to be 
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acquired under the program, taking into consideration the growth center 
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of population, trade and commerce of each provinces. 
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SEC. 4. 
Establishment of the Eastern Visayan Railway Working Group. – The 
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Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the DPWH and the PNR 
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shall establish a working group, which shall include, but not limited to, 
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local chief executives of the affected local government units, and 
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lawmakers of the affected districts. This working group shall be consulted 
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on all matters concerning the Eastern Visayan Railway System. 
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SEC. 5. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Transportation, 
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in consultation with the Eastern Visayan Railway Working Group shall 
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promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
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implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. 
Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the conduct of technical 
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studies, shall be sourced from the current budget of the DoTr and the 
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PNR. Other funding mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, 
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may be explored as per recommendation of technical studies and the 
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Eastern Visayan Railway Working Group. 
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SEC. 7. 
Separability Clause. – If any part or provision o of this Act shall be held 
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unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected 
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shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 8. 
Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules 
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and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 9. 
Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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