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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill mirrors the same bill approved  on third reading in the 19th Congress of the House 
of Representatives, transmitted to the Senate and subsequently deliberated on in February 2025.   
Retired Judge Benjamin “Ben” Torres Pongos, Sr. was a distinguished public servant and 
a true Ormocanon, who belonged to long lineages of politicians in Ormoc City. His father, Dr. 
Wenceslao Sabino Pongos, one of Ormoc’s first practicing physicians, also served as one of the 
City’s earliest mayors. “Judge Ben,” as how Ormocanons fondly called him, had a long and 
distinguished career in public service, in which he devoted much of his life. 
As a politician, he served as a member of the Municipal Board of Ormoc (the equivalent 
of a city councilor) for two terms from 1960-67.   As Municipal Board of Ormoc member, some 
of the notable pieces of legislation he passed included ordinances with strong cultural significance, 
such as regulations for fiestas, cockpits, sale of liquor within the city, and more.  
Thereafter, as a lawyer who graduated from the University of Sto. Tomas Law School in 
Manila, he was appointed presiding municipal judge of Albuera, Leyte. Throughout his long career 
as a magistrate, he was able to serve  in different places in the country, namely: Makati City; Cebu 
City, and lastly, as the presiding judge of a branch of the Regional Trial Court in Tacloban City, 
where he eventually retired in the late 1980s.  He retired from the judiciary with a stellar record, 
August 4, 2025
5:50 pm
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unblemished by  any accusations of dishonest or corrupt acts. He had a reputation for being a no-
nonsense judge, upholding honesty and integrity at the highest level.  
He was also a prolific farmer of sugarcane, rice, coconut, poultry, and fruit trees.  He was 
very active in Ormoc community activities and was a member of various local organizations such 
as the Rotary Club of Ormoc, the Unifarm Farmers Cooperative, the Couples for Christ and others. 
Because Judge Benjamin Pongos was an exemplary Ormocanon, it is with pride that one of the 
new 
roads 
should 
be 
named 
in 
his 
honor. 
In view of the foregoing, the early approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
AN ACT  
NAMING THE ROAD FROM BARANGAY EAST, JUNCTION OF ORMOC – 
ALBUERA DIVERSION ROAD, THROUGH BARANGAY NORTH, RIZAL 
EXTENSION ROAD, UP TO BARANGAY DONGHOL, ORMOC-LAKE IMELDA 
ROAD, WHICH IS ALSO REFERRED TO BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC 
WORKS AND HIGHWAYS AS THE ORMOC-LAKE IMELDA NATIONAL 
TERTIARY ROAD, IN THE CITY OF ORMOC, PROVINCE OF LEYTE, AS THE 
JUDGE BENJAMIN PONGOS AVENUE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. The road from Barangay East, junction of Ormoc – Albuera Diversion Road, 
through Barangay North, Rizal Extension Road, up to Barangay Donghol, Ormoc-Lake Imelda 
Road, which is also referred to by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as the 
Ormoc-Lake Imelda National Tertiary Road, in the City of Ormoc, Province of Leyte, is hereby 
named as the Judge Benjamin Pongos Avenue. 
SEC. 2. The Department of Public Works and Highways shall issue the necessary rules, 
orders, and circulars to implement this Act within thirty (30) days from its effectivity. 
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette 
or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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