Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
3988

HOUSE BILLNO.____

Introduced by Rep. Abdullah D. Dimaporo, Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo,
Rep. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba, and Rep. Frederick W. Siao

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide for the construction of two national highways and a crossroad
that will connect the Provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon, including the
cities of Tligan and Marawi. The said highway shall start from the Lanao del Norte Interior
Circumferential Road in the Municipality of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte to the Municipality of
Talakag, Province of Bukidnon, with a crossroad at Barangay Malimbato, Tagoloan, Lanao del
Norte and connecting roads to the national highway in Iligan City through Barangay Pugaan,
Iligan City, and to the national highway in Marawi City through the Municipality of Kapai,
Lanao del Sur. The aforesaid crossroad and national highways shall be known as the Muslim-
Christian Unity Crossroad and Highways to highlight their literal significance in improving the
good relations ~ trade, personal, cultural — between the Muslims and the Christians in the Lanao
Provinces and Bukidnon and the cities of Iligan and Marawi, in particular, and the whole of
Mindanao in general.

The proposed crossroad and national highways will certainly benefit not only the Lanao
Provinces and Bukidnon but the entire Mindanao region in general as it will facilitate the
efficient and safer flow of people and goods within the entire island. More specifically, the
nearby provinces of Misamis Occidental and Oriental, Maguindanao and Cotabato Provinces
as well as the Zamboanga Provinces will directly benefit from the road construction as it will
significantly shorten travel time to and from the aforesaid provinces,

Once completed, the proposed national highways will open up vast tracts of idle lands
to cultivation and development to the benefit of the host communities. It will certainly catalyze
the development of agriculture in the concerned areas, enhance food security, generate
employment opportunities and create new sources of income.

While a national highway between Iigan City and the Municipality of Talakag,
Bukidnon is now under construction, the said highway is primarily for the benefit of Iligan
City. Besides, it traverses steep mountain routes on the eastern side of Iligan City that are
dangerous for heavy trucks to navigate. Once completed, the proposed Muslim-Christian Unity
Crossroad and Highways will complement the said highway.

Most importantly, the proposed Muslim-Christian Unity Highway will promote peace
and order in Mindanao as it will facilitate the efficient deployment of government security
forces and significantly reduce their response time in times of emergencies. The Army brigades
in Marawi City and Bukidnon; the Army battalions in Iligan City and Baloi, Lanao


del Norte, and the Army Division in Cagayan de Oro City can easily and promptly deploy
personnel to any part that may need reinforcements. With the proposed highways in place,
insurgent and criminal elements will think twice in committing atrocities against any target in
the vicinity of the highways, Iligan City most specially, as they can easily be intercepted by
government forces at the Lanao del Norte-Bukidnon Road of the proposed Muslim-Christian
Unity Crossroad and Highways.

Marawi City and Lanao del Sur, in particular, will also benefit from the construction of
the crossroad and highways as it will provide an alternate route going to and from Marawi City.
Past Incidents of landslides and disruptions in the peace and order over the existing highway
proved costly for Marawi City and Lanao del Sur whose local economies are greatly dependent
on land transportation having no airports and seaports linking it to other regions. With another
route in place, Marawi City and Lanao del Sur will flourish as the proposed highway will
certainly enhance its security and economic development. Such development will have ripple
effects on the nearby cities and provinces.

The proposed measure is crucial to the economic development of the entire Mindanao
in the sense that roads play a major role in the economic progress of communities and countries.
This is especially true for the Philippines as the Nation’s economy relies heavily on land
transportation particularly in the movement of people and goods. Good and extensive road
networks stimulate business activities and generate economic opportunities.

In view of the foregoing premises, the prompt approval of this measure is earnestly
sought and recommended.

First District, Lanao deTNorte

weave ‘ACOs’ EM

First District, Bukic



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3988

Introduced by Rep. Abdullah D. Dimaporo, Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo,

Rep. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba, and Rep. Frederick iao

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NATIONAL HIGHWAY
FROM THE LANAO DEL NORTE INTERIOR CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROAD IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF TAGOLOAN, LANAO DEL NORTE TO THE MUNICIPALITY
OF TALAKAG, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON, WITH A CROSSROAD AT
BARANGAY MALIMBATO, MUNICIPALITY OF TAGOLOAN, LANAO DEL
NORTE AND CONNECTING ROADS TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY IN ILIGAN
CITY THROUGH BARANGAY PUGAAN, ILIGAN CITY AND TO THE NATIONAL
HIGHWAY IN MARAWI CITY THROUGH THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAPAI,
LANAO DEL SUR, TO BE KNOWN AS THE MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN UNITY
CROSSROAD AND HIGHWAYS 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 national highway from the Lanao del Norte Interior
Circumferential Road in the Municipality of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte to the Municipality of
Talakag, Bukidnon, with a Crossroad at Barangay Malimbato, Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte and
connecting roads to the national highway in Iligan City through Barangay Pugaan, Tligan City
and to the national highway in Marawi City, through Barangay Pugaan, Tligan City and to the
national highway in Marawi City, through the Municipality of Kapai, Lanao del Sur. The
aforesaid crossroad and national highways shall be known as the Muslim-Christian Unity

Crossroad and Highways.

SECTION 2. The amount necessary to defray the cost of undertaking and completing
the feasibility study and detailed engineering for this project, including the amount needed for
the construction and other activities related thereto shall be included in the annual General

Appropriations Act (GAA).


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

Approved,