Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

nouse BILL. No, 4165

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

and Rep. Ansarudé \diong

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 Higan and Marawi. The sai
Norte Interior Circumferential Road in the Municipality of Tagoloan, Lanao de! Norte to the
Municipality of Talakag, Province of Bukidnon, with a crossroad at Barangay Pinalawan,
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 Ci sin 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 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 Iligan City and the Municipality of Talakag,
Bukidnon is now under construction, the said highway is primarily for the benefit of Higan
ry. Besides, it traverses steep mountain routes on the eastern side of Higan 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 prop in Unity Highway will promote peace
and order in Mindanao as it will fa 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 eamestly
sought and recommended.

Woh nt ynaams = AH D. DIMAPORO

First District, Lanao del Norte Second D! 1 Norte

axcbyiles ACOST!

First District, Bukit

Lone Disifict, lian City

ANSARUDBYN A.M.A ADIONG
First District, Lanao del Sur


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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 4165

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

and Rep. Ansaruddin dion
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 PANALAWAN, MUNICIPALITY OF TAGOLOAN, LANAO DEL,
NORTE AND CONNECTING ROADS TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY IN ILIGAN

a BARANGAY PUGAAN, ILIGAN CITY AND TO THE NATIONAL
IWAY IN MARAWI CITY THROUGH THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAPAL,

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 Panalawan, 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, Hligan City and

to the national highway in Marawi Cit

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 of One Billion Pesos (P 1,000,000,000.00) shall be
appropriated for this purpose in the General Appropriations Act of the year following the
approval of this Act. Thereafter, such amount as it may be necessary for the completion and
‘maintenance of the crossroad and national highways shall be included in the appropriations of

the Department of Public Works and Highways in the annual General Appropriations Act.


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

3 Approved,