Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4571

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. MAXIMO B. DALOG, SR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the entire Philippine Archipelago, only the Cordillera Administrative
Region has a national toll road now known as the Baguio - Bontoc Halsema
Highway - Kennon National Toll Road comprising three (3) toll gates found
in Camps 1 and 6 both in Tuba, Benguet, along Kennon Road and the third
one in Acop, Tublay, Benguet, along the Halsema Highway.

The Baguio-Bontoc Halsema Highway National Toll Road was
established in the 1950s. It would appear that motorists traversing the
Baguio-Bontoc Halsema Highway and paying toll fees therein are being
charged twice in as much as these motorists or motor vehicle owners are
also charged and are required to pay the MOTOR VEHICLE USER’S
CHARGE (MVUC), the purpose of which is the improvement and
maintenance of national and provincial roads.

Unfortunately, the ones directly affected by this toll collection along the
Baguio — Bontoc Halsema Highway are indigenous peoples either as simple
or regular travelers, small time businessmen trying to establish their source
of income and mostly farmers transporting their agricultural products to the
La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post or directly to Baguio City and to Metro
Manila not to mention those travelling in the lowlands to get whatever
necessity they need in their day to day existence.

It has to be noted that the Cordillera Administrative Region is the
major supplier of vegetables in Metro Manila, Central Luzon or even the
entire country and most of the farmers come from Benguet and Mountain
Province who have to take the Baguio-Bontoc Halsema Highway which is
the only route to the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post and the fastest
route to Metro Manila. Necessarily, the collection of toll fees in the
Baguio-Bontoc Halsema Highway has a domino effect in that it would
naturally increase the prices of vegetables transported to the La Trinidad


Vegetable Trading Post, Metro Manila and other parts of the country. It
likewise increases the fares of commuters riding public utility vehicles not to
mention the inconvenience and delay of travel along the stretch of the road
as motorists and all vehicles has to queue before the toll gate to pay toll
fees.

Finally, the toll fees collected in the Baguio — Bontoc Halsema
Highway is not retained in the area for its maintenance but is remitted to the
national fund. Funds for the repair and maintenance of the road needs to be
requested from the DPWH which usually is so tedious and time consuming.

Thus, the purpose of this bill is to abolish the Baguio — Bontoc
Halsema Highway National Toll Road and terminate the collection of toll
fees thereto in as much as it is the mandate of the government to maintain,
secure and improve national roads in the entire country.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4571

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. MAXIMO B. DALOG, SR.

AN ACT ABOLISHING THE BAGUIO-BONTOC HALSEMA HIGHWAY
NATIONAL TOLL ROAD AND TERMINATING COLLECTION OF TOLL
FEES THERETO

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

SECTION. 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “The Abolition of
the Baguio - Bontoc Halsema Highway National Toll Road.”

SECTION. 2. Abolition of the Baguio-Bontoc Halsema Highway
National Toll Road. The Baguio-Bontoc Halsema Highway National Toll
Road is hereby abolished and the collection of toll fees thereto is hereby
terminated.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, decrees.
instructions, rules and regulations that created the Baguio-Bontoc Halsema
Highway National Toll Road or that has something to do with its creation,
operation and collection of toll fees thereto is/are hereby repealed and the
collection of toll fees thereto terminated

SECTION. 4. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,