Republic of the Philippines:
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No_?131

Introduced by Representative Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide for the construction of a concrete bridge connecting
the provinces of Bohol and Cebu, from Barangay Taytay, Municipality of Getafe,
Province of Bohol to Barangay Alegria, Municipality of Cordova, Province of Cebu,
to be known as the Bohol-Cebu Multi-Access Friendship bridge.

Bohol is a beautiful, lovely, enchanting eco-cultural tourist destination. It has
pristine white sand beaches, blue waters, scuba diving sites, underground forests,
chocolate hills, the famous newly restored Baclayon church, the Sandugo festival
commemorating the international friendship treaty between Datu Sikatuna of Bohol
and Miquel Lopez de Legazpi of Spain, among others. Cebu, on the other hand, is
the home of the so-called “mother of all festivities” in the Philippines — the Sinulog
festival which celebrates the feast of the Sto. Nifio and commemorates the original
traces of Catholicism in the country. Tourists flock to Cebu because of its tourist
spots like Basilica del Sto. Nifio, Cebu Taoist Temple, Magellan’s cross, Tops
lookout, Simala and many more. Known as the “Queen City of the South,” Cebu
boasts of at least nine economic zones providing jobs to the locals and known to be
an investors hive because of its highly-skilled manpower resources, fair weather and
business-friendly atmosphere. Cebu is also an exit and entry point of those going to
and from Bohol. At present, the only means of transportation from Cebu to Bohol
is by plane and fastcraft. Hence, this bill.

The construction of the Bohol-Cebu Multi-Access Friendship bridge will pave
the way to a convenient, safe and reliable mode of land-based transport. This would

Bill Drafting Service


reduce travel time between the two provinces for commuters as well as domestic and
foreign tourists. Prospective workers from Bohol will no longer have to relocate to
Cebu should they be employed in the latter province.

Cebu is beset with the issue of water supply. With the connecting bridge,
Bohol, which has an abundant supply of water, can easily help supply water to Cebu.
On the other hand, Bohol has poor broadband connection capability. Bohol’s power
consumption has increased and the supply is not enough. Cebu has up-to-date
broadband facilities because of the advanced interconnection required by the
businesses in the province.

Cebu can expand and cater to the broadband connection needs of nearby
Bohol. Cebu has set up power plants and can supply its excess power to Bohol which
faces laws which prohibit the setting up of power plants because of Bohol’s eco-
cultural tourism limitations. This symbiotic relationship of the two provinces can
be further enhanced with so much more opportunities with the construction of the
friendship bridge

The construction of the bridge will provide enormous positive socio-economic
impact to both Bohol and Cebu in terms of economic growth in agro-
industrialization, tourism development and job generation. It will also facilitate the
provision of social welfare by improving accessibility of medical and hospitalization
services.

Above premises considered, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
@useon City, Meteo Mala

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

7131
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CONCRETE BRIDGE
CONNECTING THE PROVINCES OF BOHOL AND CEBU, FROM
BARANGAY TAYTAY, MUNICIPALITY OF GETAFE, PROVINCE OF
BOHOL TO BARANGAY ALEGRIA, MUNICIPALITY OF CORDOVA,
PROVINCE OF CEBU, TO BE KNOWN AS THE BOHOL-CEBU MULTI-
ACCESS FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE 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 constructed, under the supervision of the
Department of Public Works and Highways, a concrete bridge connecting the
Provinces of Bohol and Cebu, from Barangay Taytay, Municipality of Getafe,
Province of Bohol to Barangay Alegria, Municipality of Cordova, Province of Cebu,

to be known as the Bohol-Cebu Multi-Access Friendship Bridge

Bill Drafting Service


SEC. 2. The Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall include in the
Department’s program the construction, repair and maintenance of the bridge, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC.3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,