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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 4
First Regular Session

1691

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO "DONG" D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE CONSTRUCTION OF MALLS, SPORTS CENTERS, CONVENTION
CENTERS, AND EXHIBITION CENTERS WITHIN A THREE KILOMETER RADIUS FROM.
THE EXIT AND ENTRANCE OF AN EXPRESSWAY TO PREVENT TRAFFIC CONGESTION
THEREIN AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREOF

tY NOTE

The traffic problems which undoubtedly appear to worsen everyday do not only exist in
Metro Manila. These worsening traffic problems have already cascaded in our expressways,
particularly the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), thereby
defeating the purpose for the construction of these expressways. The number of vehicles which
ply our roadways appear to increase by the hundreds every month. The increase in the volume
of motor vehicles plying our NLEX and SLEX is further exacerbated by the proliferation of
business establishments along our expressways which also invariably serve as magnets for the
traveling public. In the course of their exiting the NLEX and SLEX to avail the services of these
business establishments, the flow of motor vehicles invariably slows down and sometimes extend
to no less than 500 meters long.

The worsening traffic problems is mostly true in NLEX, particularly in the section within
the City of San Fernando Exit in the Province of Pampanga, wherein the pileup of motor vehicles
sometimes extend to a kilometer-long on weekends because of the presence of two (2) malls
there which attracts large number of customers, especially during weekends. Itis of course a fact,
and this is beyond debate, that worsening traffic problems result to billions of pesos on wasted
fuel every year; valuable times wasted on the road—which is beyond recovery because time lost,
can never be regained—plus the pollution of the environment caused by the carbon monoxide
and other elements generated by the slow moving motor vehicles resulting in the incomplete
combustion of their fuel and extended time on the roadway.

In the view of the foregoing considerations, it is necessary that we come up with a
legislation that will contribute in easing the traffic problems by regulating the future construction
of malls, sport centers, convention centers and trade exhibiting centers in such a way that they
will not unduly interfere in the flow of motor vehicle traffic along our expressways.

REP. AUREV/IO D. GONZALES, JR.
District, Pampanga


CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1691

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO "DONG" D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE CONSTRUCTION OF MALLS, SPORTS CENTERS, CONVENTION
CENTERS, AND EXHIBITION CENTERS WITHIN A THREE KILOMETER RADIUS FROM
THE EXIT AND ENTRANCE OF AN EXPRESSWAY TO PREVENT TRAFFIC CONGESTION
THEREIN AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREOF

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

‘SEC. 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Anti Expressway Motor Vehicle Traffic
Congestion Act”.

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. — The following terms, as used in this Act, shall mean:

a) Mall refers to a large retail complex containing a variety of stores, dining places and other
business establishments housed in a series of constructed or adjacent buildings. Further,
it may also be housed in a single building with a parking area, open or covered, that can
accommodate at least one thousand motor vehicles, whether intended for passenger use
or for delivery of goods at any given time.

b)

Sports center refers to a building where people can perform different types of indoor or
outdoor sports. Itis primarily designed and intended for the holding of sports events where
the audience are charged entrance fees and can accommodate at least ten thousand
(10,000) people at a single sporting event. It also includes a parking area, open or covered,
which can accommodate at least one thousand (1,000) motor vehicles, whether intended
for passenger use or for delivery of various equipment.

©) Convention center refers to a large building that is designed to hold a convention where
individuals and groups gather together to promote and share common interests. It has a
sufficient floor area to accommodate at least five thousand (5,000) attendees at any given
time. It typically has at least one (1) auditorium, one (1) concert hall, one (1) lecture hall,
‘one (1) meeting room, and one (1) conference room; and has a parking area, open or
covered which can accommodate at least one thousand (1,000) motorized vehicles,
whether intended for passenger use or for delivery of various equipment.

d) Exhibition center refers to a very large venue suitable for major or non-major trade shows.

It can accommodate at least five thousand (5,000) people at any given time and has a

parking facility, open or covered, which can accommodate at any given time at least one

thousand (1,000) motor vehicles, whether intended for passenger use or for transport of

goods.

SEC. 3. It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to build or construct a mall, sports
center, convention center, exhibition center, and/or other structures designed for the congregation
or gathering of people within a three (3) kilometer radius from an existing expressway.

SEC. 4. Building officials which have jurisdiction over the place where the mall, sports center,
convention center or exhibition center are strictly enjoined to desist in issuing the permits required
under Republic Act No. 6541 or the National Building Code of the Philippines and its Implementing
Rules and Regulations for the construction of the structures/faciliies mentioned herein if the


same, as constructed, will be within the three (3) meter radius from the entrance or exit of an
existing expressway.

SEC. 5. Penal Clause — Violations of this Act shall be penalized with imprisonment of not less
than one (1) month and one (1) day, but not more than six (6) months and one (1) day or a fine
of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00), or both imprisonment and fine
at the discretion of the court. This is without prejudice to the imposition of administrative penalty
to the offending public official(s) as may be provided under existing laws, rules and regulations.

The above-mentioned penalties of imprisonment or fine or both shall likewise be imposed on the
owner of the mall sports center, convention center or exhibition center. In case the owner of the
structure or facility is a corporation, the officers of the corporation shall be held liable for the
violation of this Act. In case, the owner of the structure or facility is a partnership, all the partners
shall be held liable for the violation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause — Any and all acts, administrative issuances and rules and regulations
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed accordingly.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause — In case any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by the declaration shall remain valid and
subsisting.

SEC. 8. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days affer its publication in the Oficial
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,