Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5884

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE WILFREDO 8.CAMINERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to convert the 30.4-kilometer local Aleoy-Alegria Road in
southern Cebu into a national road, It is located in the Second Legislative District of
the Province of Cebu, home to various eco-tourist destinations of the southern
portion of the Cebu Island, and gateway to Negros Oriental and Northern
Mindanao. It connects the southeastern seaboard to the southwest side of Cebu.

The 2! District is likewise home to the Vegetable Basket of Cebu which
supplies fresh vegetables and agricultural products to meet the demands of the fast-
growing population and tourism businesses of Cebu and the Central Visayas. The
vegetables and other agricultural products are grown in the various upland farms of
southern Cebu with inadequate farm to market roads making their transportation
difficult and expensive,

‘The municipality of Aleoy is 98 kilometers from Cebu City along the Natalio
Bacalso Highway. It has various beach resorts along its coastal areas, but its
agricultural areas are located in the mountainous barangays. It is bounded on its
western side by the municipality of Alegria, which is about 117 kilometers from
Cebu City and three hours-ride via Carcar. Alegria is generally hilly and
mountainous.

The national road in the southern part of Cebu Province is a coastal road from
Alcoy to Boljoon, Oslob to Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan, and Malabuyoc. Over the
years, there has been tremendous increase in the traffic of passengers and cargo in
the Cebu-Negros Oriental route via the various ports in southern Cebu crossing to
Dumaguete and Northern Mindanao. Considering the coastal nature of the national
road and the growing use and importance of the Cebu-Negros Oriental route, the
Alcoy-Alegria Road that traverses the mountains between the municipalities needs

1


to be developed and maintained well as a viable and shorter alternative route to the
southwestern towns, especially in case of natural calamities which cause closure and
blockage of the coastal highway as often happen when typhoons and, worse,
earthquakes hit the southern part of Cebu.

The conversion of the Alcoy-Alegria Road into a national road will thus
greatly enhance and strengthen the infrastructure backbone in southern Cebu. It will
facilitate the movement of residents and tourists and the transport of the agricultural
produce from the various mountain barangays of the neighboring towns which at
present have to be tediously transported via small farm roads that connect to the
Vegetable Basket and for which there has no convenient alternative access.

With the expected tremendous economic impact on eco-tourism, agricultural
production, and other economic activities in the area, the conversion of the Alcoy-
Alegria Road will greatly boost the many important roles of southern Cebu in the
development of the entire Province and the Central Visayas region.

Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ERO
Representa
2nd District,



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS,
Second Regular Session

5884

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE WILFREDO S.CAMINERO

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE ALCOY-ALEGRIA
ROAD IN THE PROVINCE OF CEBU INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1, The Alcoy-Alegria Road in the Province of Cebu is hereby
converted into a national road.

SECTION 2. ‘The Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall include in
the Department's program the improvement, repair and maintenance of the said
road, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

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

circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,