NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE. )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

2559

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House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

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AN ACT
CREATING A DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE IN THE SIXTH
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

District Engineering Offices or DEOs of the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) are mandated by law to execute infrastructure
programs as they are located in each legislative district throughout the

country.

The enactment of Republic Act No. 10673 otherwise known as “An Act
Reapportioning the Province of Batangas Into Six (6) Legislative Districts” on
the 28th of July 2014, in effect, created the City of Lipa as the Sth
Legislative District of Batangas. ,

At present, the Fourth and Sixth Districts of Batangas are served by
only one DEO. In such a case, it is undeniable, that the inadequacy of
manpower and resources as a result of only one DEO serving two (2)
legislative districts, affects the efficiency and effective management of project
implementation.

The City of Lipa covers an area of 209.4 square kilometers which

constitutes 6.72 percent of Batangas Province’s total area.! Its total

" hups://www philatlas.com/luzon/r04a/batangas/lipa,himl (Accessed 30 May 2022)
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population of 372,931 as determined by the 2020 Census of Population and
Housing accounts for 12.82 percent of the province's population in 2020.2
Based on these figures, it has a population density of 1,781 inhabitants per
square kilometer.

The Fourth DEO is currently serving both needs of the Fourth and Sixth
Legislative Districts of the Province. It is clearly short-staffed and thus, can
cause undue delays and may compromise the quality of project
implementation. This situation is apparently disadvantageous to both
districts.

Therefore, it is imperative to create a separate district engineering
office dedicated for the Sixth District of Batangas to ensure the more effective
and efficient maintenance of existing infrastructures as well as the planning,
design, construction, and supervision of future infrastructure projects.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

mima

? http://rsso04a.psa.qov.ph/sites/default/files/Lipa%20City. pdf (Accessed 30 May 2022)
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE =)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 2099

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

AN ACT
CREATING A DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE IN THE SIXTH
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. A district engineering office of the Department of Public
Works and Highways is hereby created in the Sixth Legislative District,
Province of Batangas, to be located in the City of Lipa and referred to as the
Sixth District Engineering Office.

Sec. 2. The Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall include in
the Department's program the operationalization of the Sixth District
Engineering Office in the City of Lipa, the funding of which shall be included
in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 3.  Effectivity. — This Act shalt take effect fifteen (15) days
following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation
or in the Official Gazette. ’

Approved,