RECEIVED

DATE:

Republic of the Philippines TINE:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | By:
Quezon City

i

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

[HOUSE QF REPRESENTATIVES

BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE
First Regular Session ceusmonoccseivce |

HOUSE BILL NO. 1096

Introduced by HON. RONALD M. COSALAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to give substance to the rural based development strategy by
placing equity and distributive justice at par with economic productivity. The
construction of barangay roads and multi-purpose pavements in barangays, especially
in the provinces, is not only ideal, but likewise, beneficial to everyone. Cemented roads
provide ease in the transportation of people and cargo. It hastens not only travel, but
also communication, because barangays also become accessible to more and more
people. Thus, development, even assistance, can reach rural barangays.

In far-flung areas, they provide farmers with needed marketing infrastructure
that protect small farmers from crop losses due to lack of drying and storage facilities.
Farmers will no longer be forced to sell their crops and produce to middlemen ata loss.
During harvest season, half of national roads are utilized as drying surfaces for
agricultural products like palay, corn, peanuts, mongo, copra, coffee and other
agricultural crops that need drying under the sun.

In addition, pavements could also be used for community activities, like fiestas,
athletic competitions, community meetings and consultations, and social gatherings for
the youth and old alike. It also keeps the roads exclusively for vehicles, thus rural
barangays are made safer because people and produce are kept on the sidewalks.

In short, barangay roads and multi-purpose pavements are necessary means for
rural development.

Enactment of this bill into law is earnestly sought.

HON. RONALD M. COSA\LAN

Loye District, Benguet


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

a6
HOUSE BILL no,_1096

Introduced by HON. RONALD M. COSALAN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE BARANGAY
ROADS/MULTIPURPOSE PAVEMENTS IN ALL BARANGAYS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - \t is hereby declared the national policy
to provide concrete barangay roads/multipurpose pavements in all barangays in
support of the implementation and promotion of comprehensive rural development
and agrarian reform to accelerate the socio-economic-cultural development of the
countryside.

SECTION 2. Concrete Barangay Roads/Multipurpose Pavements Program. -
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall undertake the
construction of concrete barangay roads/multipurpose pavements in all barangays
throughout the country: Provided, That any such construction is based on a program
prepared by the DPWH in coordination with MEMBERS OF CONGRESS and the
Municipal or City Development Council: Provided, further, That the barangay council
shall assume full supervision and control of projects with a maximum length of 100
meters: Provided, further, That there concrete barangay roads/multipurpose
pavements shall be located in the population center of the barangay; Provided, further,
That based on a classification by population and area to be formulated by the
DPWH, barangays shall be classified into small, which shall have a 100-meter
road/pavement; medium, which shall have a 200-meter road/ pavement; and large,
which shall have a 300-meter road/pavement; and Provided, finally, That the
municipal mayor and the barangay captain shall be furnished with pertinent
documents, data and information before any construction can be commenced.



SECTION 3. Construction Priority. - In the construction of concrete
barangay roads/multipurpose pavements, the DPWH shall give priority to
barangays whose residents volunteer labor services in the construction thereof and
for this purpose, issue guidelines and receive applications therefor: Provided, That
the construction of the concrete barangay roads/ multipurpose pavements shall be
given the highest priority in economically depressed areas or in barangays in the
rural areas: Provided, further, That each barangay shall have at least one concrete
barangay road/ multipurpose pavement: Provided, finally, That in barangays without
any need for a concrete barangay road/multipurpose pavement, the allocation may
be used for cementing the grounds of any public school, health center, multipurpose
center, barangay halll or for barangay alleys.

SECTION 4. Use of the Facility.- There shall be no monopoly respecting the
use of the concrete barangay roads/multipurpose pavements by any individual or
association except in cases where the beneficial use thereof redounds to the benefit of
the community.

For the purposes of this Act, the barangay council concerned is hereby
authorized to issue such rules and regulations for the use of the facility to the end
that an equitable and proportionate use therof be made available among barangay
residents/associations and to impose such minimal charges as may be necessary for
the maintenance and normal repairs of said concrete barangay roads/ multipurpose
pavements.

SECTION 5. Submission of Reports. - Within ninety (90) days after the
approval of this Act, and at the end of every calendar quarter thereafter, the
Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall submit progress reports to each
House of Congress on the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. Funding. - The amount needed for the implementation of the
construction of concrete barangay roads/multipurpose pavements in all barangays
throughout the country shall be included in the appropriations of the DPWH under
the General Appropriations Act: Provided, That funds for projects to be undertaken
by the barangay council, under Section 2 hereof, shall be released by the DPWH to
said council: Provided, further, That portions of amounts available from official
foreign assistance and concessional loans that are unutilized in any given year shall
be availed of by the President to augment the fund of the Department until this
program is completed: Provided, finally, That these concrete barangay
roads/ multipurpose pavements shall be constructed in each barangay over a period
of not more than five (5) years from the approval of this Act.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,