SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2707 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
"15 
MAR 17 P2 :37 
AMENDING BOOK 1, TITLE 1, CHAPTER 2, SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991" TO 
PROHIBIT THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALA WIGAN FROM NAMING LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNITS, PUBLIC PLACES, STREETS AND STRUCTURES AFTER 
RELATIVES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 1 provides: 
Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and 
employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with 
utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism 
and justice, and lead modest lives. 
Article 2, Section 26 further provides: 
Section 26. The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities 
for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by 
law. 
This bill seeks to prohibit the practice of naming public works after the relatives of 
government officials and employees. 
The Local Government Code of 1991 provides the Sangguniang Panlalawigan 
with the power to changc the names of local government units, public places, streets and 
public structures within its territorial jurisdiction with the limitation that such places and 
structures may not be named after any living person. It has been the practice of some 
government officials, however, to name public works after their deceased parents or 
grandparents, some of whom may share their name. 
This practice is deplorably self-serving. Not only does it underhandedly increase 
their own prestige within their locality, it also has the insidious effect of perpetuating 


their political dynastic line by forcing street goers to repeatedly utter their family name. 
This amounts to a circumvention of the law against premature campaigning, and at the 
expense of the taxpayers, no less. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENAIE 
S.No. 
~707 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
"15 
!1AR 17 P 2 :37 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
AMENDING BOOK 1, TITLE 1, CHAPTER 2, SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
3 
7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991" TO 
4 
PROHIBIT THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALA WIGAN FROM NAMING LOCAL 
5 
GOVERNMENT UNITS, PUBLIC PLACES, STREETS AND STRUCTURES AFTER 
6 
RELATIVES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
7 
SECTION 1. Book 1, Title 1, Chapter 2, Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7160 
8 
otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 199 I" is hereby amended to read as 
9 
follows: 
10 
Section 13. Naming of Local Government Units and Public Places, 
11 
Streets and Structures. -
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(d) None of the foregoing local government units, 
13 
institutions, places, or buildings shall be named after a living 
14 
person, NOR ANY RELATIVE BY AFFINITY OR 
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CONSANGUINITY WITHIN THE FOURTH CIVIL 
16 
DEGREE, WHETHER LIVING OR DEAD, OF ANY 
17 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE, nor maya 
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change of name be made unless for a justifiable reason and, in 
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any case, not oftener than once every ten (10) years. The 
20 
name of a local government unit or a public place, street or 


1 
structure with historical, cultural, or ethnic significance shall 
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not be changed, unless by a unanimous vote of the 
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sanggunian concerned and in consultation with the PHC. 
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SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
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or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/aml II March20 15 
2