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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _°417

Introduced by Honorable SAMANTHA LOUISE VARGAS ALFONSO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Province of Cagayan comprises an aggregate land area of
9,295.75 square kilometers and is the second largest province in the
region. It is composed of twenty-eight (28) municipalities and one (1)
city, and is subdivided into three (3) districts with the second district
having the most municipalities at twelve (12) as its political
jurisdiction.

Cagayan Second District has in its political jurisdiction, three
(3) upland municipalities namely Sto. Nino, Rizal, and Piat. These are
hilly and mountainous areas that have agriculture as its main
economic endeavor and are major producers of rice, corn, vegetables
and other farm products. These municipalities can only be accessed
thru’ the Cagayan-Apayao Road located in the Third District. Going to
these municipalities from the Second District will require one to go
around, traversing thru the Manila North Road passing the
municipalities of the First and the Third District. There is no national
road linking these municipalities to the rest of the district.

‘The municipality of Piat is the home of the Basilica Minore of
the Our Lady of Piat, a tourism destination site. Tourists and Marian
devotees particularly from Regions 1 and the Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR) who wish to go to the Shrine would need to go around
the province to reach the place. The long travel impedes tourism and
affects economic income derived from local tourism.

The barangays of these municipalities are agricultural
communities where vast pasture lands are located. Despite being
major agricultural producers, the potentials for development have not
been realized until now because of inter-town/province and regional
connectivity. Moreover, since these municipalities can only be reached
thru’ the Cagayan-Apayao Road, the delivery of basic governmental
services and rescue operations are hampered particularly during
calamities as they become isolated from the other municipalities of the
Second District particularly when the roads in Alcala, Cagayan (First


District) and Tuguegarao City (Third District) become flooded and
impassable.

This conversion of the Centro Lasam — Sto. Nino — Piat Road
connecting to the Cagayan-Apayao Road into a national road will help
in its progress and development.

For the benefit of constituents in these areas, approval of this
Bill is earnestly sought.

SAMANTHA LOUISE VARGAS ALFONSO


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8417

Introduced by Honorable SAMANTHA LOUISE VARGAS ALFONSO

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE CENTRO LASAM - STO. NINO - PIAT
ROAD CONNECTING TO THE CAGAYAN - APAYAO ROAD INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Conversion of Baranagay/Municipal/Provincial Road.
The Centro Lasam ~ Sto. Nino - Piat Road connecting to the Cagayan-
Apayao Road into a National Road is hereby converted into a national
road under the jurisdiction and supervision of the Department of
Public works and Highways (DPWH.)

SECTION 2. Implementation. The amount necessary for the
improvement of the said road shall be charged to the appropriations of
the Department of Public Works and Highways under the current
General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be
necessary for its repair and maintenance shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. Effectivity. This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of
general circulation.

Approved,