REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

House Bilt No._ 8049

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 13 of the Local Government Code of 1991 authorizes local governments to change
the names of streets and other public places in consultation with the National Historical
‘Commission of the Philippines. As guardian of the cultural heritage, the policy of the NHCP is to
preserve the original names.

Unfortunately, many of our streets” names have been renamed without consultation with the
NHCP, contrary to the said provisions of the R.A. 7160. According to the NHCP in a published
article by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, some of these streets include Arroceros, which is now
Mayor Antonio Villegas Street; Aduana, now Andres Soriano Jr. Street; Pepin, now Marzan Street;
and Constancia, which is now Cristobal Street.

Worse, some local government units even change the name of streets and other historic
places over the objections of the NHCP. According to Carminda R. Arevalo, a Supervising History
Researcher of the NHCP in a published article by the Manila Times, that it has been observed that
LGUs do not follow Sec. 13. Of R.A. 7160 rigorously. Occasionally, an ordinance is passed without
consultation and a copy sent to the NHCP. Other officials seek the NHCP’s opinion, but still
proceed with the renaming against the commission’s objections, citing as example, a city mayor
who renamed a schoo! to honor his father even before consultation was made with the NHCP.

To tolerate changing the names of our streets without or over the objections of the NHCP
‘would be practically the same as wiping out our cultural heritage for future generations, especially
the children who would lose their sense of history.

Like old buildings and structures, old names of streets, avenues, boulevards, and plazas, and
other public places are part of our historical heritage. Each street bears an interesting narration of
‘our past as recorded in historic accounts or even famous literary works such as the Noli Me Tangere
or El Filibusterismo.

To give life and effectiveness to the mandate of NHCP as guardian of our national and
cultural heritage, particularly in preserving the names of old and historic streets, immediate
approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

‘This bill was filed by former Rep. Roilo S. Golez in the 15" Congress.



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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 8049

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS.
‘THE “LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991”

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

SECTION 1.—Section 13 of R.A. No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government
‘Code of 1991 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 13. Naming of Local Govenrment Code Units and Public Places, Streets, and
Structures.

(a) The sangguniang panlalawigan may, fin consultation with the Philippine
Historical Commission (PHC)] AFTER PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH AND
FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL
COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NHCP), change the name of the following
within its territorial jurisdiction:

(1) Component cities and municipalities, upon the recommendation of the
sanggunian concerned;

(2) Provincial roads, avenues, boulevards, thoroughfares, and bridges;

(3) Public vocational or technical schools and other post-secondary and
tertiary schools;

(4) Provincial hospitals, health centers, and other health facilities; and


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(5) Any other public place or ‘owned by the provincial government.

(b) The sanggunian of highly urbanized cities and of component cities whose
charters prohibit their voters from voting for provincial elective officials, hereinafter
referred to in this Code as independent component cities, may, [in consultation with the
Phi ine Historical Commission] AFTER PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH AND
FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL
COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NHCP), change the name of the following
within its territorial jurisdiction:

(1) City barangays, upon the recommendation of the sangguniang barangay
concerned;

(2) City roads, avenues, boulevards, thoroughfares, and bridges;

(3) Public elementary, secondary and vocational or technical schools,
community colleges and non-chartered colleges;

(4) City hospitals, health centers and other health facilities; and
(5) Any other public place or building owned by the city government.

(©) The sanggunians of component cities and municipalities may, [in consultation
with the Philippine Historical Commission] AFTER PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH
AND FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL
COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NHCP), change the name of the following
within its territorial jurisdiction:

(1) City and municipal barangays, upon recommendation of the sangguniang
barangay concemed;

(2) City, municipal and barangay roads, avenues, boulevards, thoroughfares,
and bridges;

(3) City and municipal public elementary, secondary and vocational or
technical schools, post- secondary and other tertiary schools;

(4) City and municipal hospitals, health centers and other health facilities;


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(5) Any other public place or building owned by the municipal government.

() None of the foregoing local government units, institutions, places, or buildings
shall be named after a living person, nor may a change of name be made unless for a
justifiable reason and, in any case, not oftener than once every ten (10) years. The name of a
local government unit or a public place, street or structure with historical, cultural, or ethnic
significance shall not be changed, unless by a unanimous vote of the sanggunian concerned
and AFTER PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH AND FAVORABLE
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF
‘THE PHILIPPINES (NHCP).

(©) A change of name of a public school shall be made only upon the
recommendation of the local school board concerned.

(f) A change of name of public hospitals, health centers, and other health facilities
shall be made only upon the recommendation of the local health board concerned.

(g) The change of name of any local government unit shall be effective only upon
ratification in a plebiscite conducted for the purpose in the political unit directly affected.

(h) In any change of name, the Office of the President, the representative of the
legislative district concemed, and the Bureau of Posts shall be notified.

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause-—Alll laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or any part
thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,