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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House BiLLNo,__ 4215

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS “XJ” D. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was filed due to the passage of the following resolutions of the local legislative bodies

in the Province of Camiguin:

a. Resolution No. 65, Series of 2013, of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of
Camiguin, entitled, Resolution Requesting Hon. Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo, Congressman,
Lone District Of Camiguin To Pass A Law Naming The Camiguin Circumferential Road To

Pedro P. Romualdo Circumferential Highway.

b. Resolution No. 2013-10-35 of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality Mambajao,
entitled, A Resolution Requesting The Congressman Of The Lone District Of Camiguin, Hon.
Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo, To Pass A Law Naming The Camiguin Circumferential Road As
Pedro P. Romualdo Circumferential Highway.

c. Resolution No. 176, Series of 2013, of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of
Mahinog entitled, Resolution Requesting Hon. Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo, Representative Of
The Lone District Of Camiguin To Introduce A Bill Naming The Camiguin Circumferential
Road To Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo Circumferential Highway To Honor And To
Perpetuate His Memory.

d. Resolution No. 14-05, Series of 2014, of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of
Guinsiliban, entitled, Resolution Naming The Portion Of The Camiguin Circumferential
Road From Guinsiliban-Mahinog Boundary To Guinsiliban-Sagay Boundary Into Pedro

Palarca Romualdo Circumferential Road.

e. Resolution No. 62, Series of 2013, of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Sagay,
entitled, Resolution Appealing Hon. Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo To Author A Bill For ts


Enactment To A Law Naming The Camiguin Circumferential Road To Pedro P. Romualdo
Circumferential Highway.

f. Resolution No. 15, Series of 2014, of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of
Catarman, entitled, Resolution Earnestly Recommending To Honorable Xavier Jesus De La
Fuente Romualdo, Congressman Of The Lone District Of Camgiuin, To Name The

Circumferential Road Of Camiguin To Congressman Pedro Palarca Circumferential Road.

At the time of his death on April 24, 2013, the late Representative Pedro “Loloy” Palarca
Romualdo (hereinafter referred to as “Representative Romualdo”) was serving his fifth term as a
Member of the House of Representatives (hereinafter referred to as the “House”). He served as
Representative of the Lone District of Camiguin during the Eight, Ninth, and Tenth Congresses
(1987-1998). Before this, he represented the Province of Camiguin as a delegate to the 1971
Constitutional Convention. After serving in the House for nine years, he was elected Governor of
the Province of Camiguin for three consecutive terms (1998-2007). The people of Camiguin
(2007-2013).

Representative Romualdo was running for reelection in the May 2013 Elections when he fell ill

again sent him to represent them in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Congresses
and unexpectedly and unfortunately passed way.

Representative Romualdo is widely credited for pioneering the development of the Province of
Camiguin. He believed that, provided with the proper structures, means, and opportunities, the
people of Camiguin could lift themselves up and make something of themselves and that, if
properly run and developed, the island Province of Camiguin, small yet full of wonders to offer
the world, would flourish and truly become a paradise that defies imagination.

Representative Romualdo committed himself to making life easier and better for his constituents
and embarked on a development agenda that consisted of the construction and improvement of
roads, bridges, ports, flood control systems, public buildings, and other infrastructure, including
tourism infrastructure, improvement of waterworks systems and the provision of potable water,
clectrification of barangays and sitios, agricultural modernization, and furnishing of decent and
adequate housing, while always emphasizing environmental protection and the conservation of

nature.

Representative Romualdo likewise prioritized the continuous upgrading of healthcare facilities in
Camiguin and the capability of local government units to provide public health services. Through
his efforts, the facilities and services of the Camiguin General Hospital, the Catarman District

Hospital, and the rural health units in Camiguin have vastly improved.


A self-made man who came from very humble beginnings, Representative Romualdo’s own life
was proof that education is the fundamental solution to poverty. Hence, he was a passionate
advocate of making education accessible to as many as possible, Representative Romualdo
authored Republic Act (“RA”) No. 7923 and RA No. 8481, which respectively created the
Camiguin Polytechnic State College and the Camiguin School of Arts and Trade. Wanting to
ensure that young people in Camiguin would actually go to and finish college, Representative
Romualdo devised the game-changing educational grant program, now known in Camiguin as
the Provincial Youth Grantee Program, which has resulted in enabling thousands of young men

and women to have better opportunities in life.

Prior to his untimely passing, Representative Romualdo sought to establish public secondary
schools in areas in Camiguin where such were lacking, Hence, he authored the laws that created
the Maae National High School! in the Municipality of Guinsiliban, the Mahinog National High
‘hol * in the

School II? in the Municipality of Mahinog, and the Alangilan Integrated $

Municipality of Sagay.

stint as Governor of the Province of Camiguin, Representative Romualdo instituted

During his
and implemented various reforms in the Provincial Government of Camiguin (the “Provincial
Government”). He was recognized for his style of governance and was awarded the Presidential
Medal of Merit for good local governance and leadership in 2006. Also, during his
administration, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council of Camiguin was a frequent winner

of the Gawad Kalasag Award in the regional and national levels, due to his initiatives in

strengthening the disaster preparedness and mitigation capabilities of the Provincial Government

and in introducing community-based disaster mitigation.

As a Member of the House of Representatives, Representative Romualdo actively and diligently

ated in committee deliberations and plenary debates, thereby distinguishing himself with

parti

his contributions to the enhancement of legislation and the thorough conduct of congressional
oversight. Representative Romualdo’s colleagues and the leadership of the House, perhaps as a
testament to their trust and confidence in his integrity and abilities, consistently assigned him to
sensitive positions. In the 8" and 9” Congresses, he was elected to the Commission on
Appointments (“CA”) and served as Chairman of its Committee on Labor, Employment, and
Social Welfare and Committee on National Defense, respectively. In the 10" Congress, the
House elected him Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. When he
retumed to House in the 14" Congress, he was elected Chairman of the Committee on Good
Government and Public Accountability. In the 15" Congress, he served again in the CA and was

named Chairman of that body’s Committee on Public Works and Highways.

' Republic Act No. 10020.
? Republic Act No. 10234.
> Republic Act No. 10304.


Throughout his five terms in Congress, Representative Romualdo spoke on and brought to the
attention of the House several issues of vital importance to the country and the government and
filed numerous measures, both of national and local significance. Among the laws he authored or
co-authored are the Cooperative Code of the Philippines,’ RA No, 6939, which created the
Cooperative Development Authority, RA No. 6656, which protects the security of tenure of
those in the Civil Service during government reorganizations, the Universally Accessible
Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008,° the Mindanao Development Authority Act of
2010, RA No. 10172, which authorized local civil registrars and consul generals to correct
clerical or typographical errors in the birthdates and sex of persons, RA No. 10374, which
extended the legal existence of the Land Bank of the Philippines, RA No. 10574, which allowed
foreign equity in rural banks, and the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation

Act.”

This bill is a simple gesture of gratefulness and appreciation to a person who has made
tremendous contributions to the progress of Camiguin and the improvement of the quality of life
of its people. It is neither a measure for vanity nor aggrandizement. It is but a tribute to a person.
who carnestly served his country and his province and who stands as a shining example of
leadership and genuine service, and whose vision for Camiguin continues to guide and inspire

the new leaders of the province.

In view of all the foregoing, it is fervently hoped that the Members of Congress will support the

prompt passage of this measure and its enactment into law.

, oe ee

XAVIER JESUS “XJ” D. ROMUALDO

+ Republic Act No. 693
5 Republic Act No. 9502.
§ Republic Act No. 9996.
” Republic Act No. 10591.



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

First Regular Session

House BILL No._4215

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS “XJ” D, ROMUALDO-

AN ACT
NAMING THE CAMIGUIN CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROAD IN THE PROVINCE OF
CAMIGUIN INTO THE PEDRO P. ROMUALDO CIRCUMFERENTIAL HIGHWAY

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Pedro P. Romualdo Circumferential Highway Act.

SEC, 2. The Circumferential Road in the Province of Camiguin, a national road which travers

and connects the Municipalities of Mambajao, Mahinog, Guinsiliban, Sagay, and Catarman,
hereby named and shall henceforth be known as the Pedro P. Romualdo Circumferential
Highway, in honor of the late Pedro Palarca Romualdo and in recognition of his service to the
country and the people of Camiguin, as a Member of the House of Representatives representing
the Lone District of Camiguin during the Eight, Ninth, Tenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth

Congresses and as Governor of the Province of Camiguin from 1998 to 2007.

SEC, 3. The Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall issue the necessary rules,

regulations, and orders to implement this Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect following its publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,