REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY

16™ CONGRESS

28? REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 5818

Introduced by Honorable ISAGANI S, AMATONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This Bill seeks to establish an additional District Engineering Office under the
Department of Public Works and Highways in the 3" Congressional District of the
Province of Zamboanga del Norte, This will be based in the Municipality of Siocon and
will handle all public works activities in the Municipalities of Baliguian, Siocon, Sirawai
and Sibuco.

The 3" Congressional District of Zamboanga del Norte embraces about 50% or
351,611 hectares of the total 730,100 hectares land area of the Province. This vast area
assigned to the 2" District Engineering Office of the DPWH based in the Municipality of
Labason and which stretches over 250 kilometers (From the Municipality of Leon
Postego up North and down to the Southemmost Municipality of Sibuco at the boundary
of Zamboanga City) has caused logistical nightmares and intolerable delays in most of
the public works projects undertaken in the Southern part of the Province, particularly in
the Municipalities of Baliguian, Siocon, Sirawai and Sibuco. Furthermore, the rough and
hilly terrain connecting Gutalac to Baliguian has rendeted the four aforementioned
municipalities inaccessible from the 2™ DEO as heavy construction equipment have to be
brought to Zamboanga City and shipped by sea to Siocon

In its July 2013 report, the Special Monitoring Team of the Regional Project
Monitoring Committee Region IX described “the westem part of Zamboanga Peninsula
as ONE OF THE MOST NEGLECTED AREAS OF THE REGION DUE TO THE
ABSENCE OF A GOOD ROAD NETWORK”, a signifacant factor that contributed to
the classification of Zamboanga del Norte as ONE OF THE TOP TEN POOREST
PROVINCES OF THE COUNTRY.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this Bill is eamestly sought.

4 e t y
ACARI LaGere


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

16" CONGRESS
2%? Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 5818

Introduced by; HON. ISAGANIS. AMATONG,

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE 4"! DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF SIOCON, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1, There shall be established a new district engineering office in the
Province of Zamboanga del Norte to be known as the 4" District Engineering Office of
the Department of Public Works and Highways

SECTION 2. The site of the 4" District Engineering Office shall be located in
Siocon and its jurisdiction shall cover the municipalities of Baliguian, Siraway, Siocon
and Sibuco, province of Zamboanga del Norte.

SECTION 3, The Secretary of Public Works and Highways is hereby authorized
to appropriate the necessary sum out of the unallocated funds and/or savings or
contingency fund of the Department to carry out the immediate implementation of this
Act, and forthwith, transfer the records, property, equipment, supplies, and materials
pertaining to the jurisdiction and administration of the engineering District in accordance
with existing laws and regulations

SECTION 4, Thereafter, the funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval

Approved.