FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1238 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There seem to be no end to road diggings and excavations by both public 
and private entities and worst, there appears to be no coordination on these road 
works among the various agencies of government. It is not unusual to see the 
asphalting and concreting of a particular stretch of road by the Department of 
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and then comes the MWSS digging or 
destroying a portion of the same newly-cemented, paved or asphalted road to 
repair or lay down its water pipes. 
.. 
These road works, whether completed on time or not, invariably lead to a 
narrowing of roads and worsening of traffic jams. Apart also from causing great 
public inconvenience, the said road diggings and excavations contribute to 
dangerous accidents to persons and vehicles. likewise, there have been several 
cases where children have drowned in water filled holes and pedestrians falling 
into gaping excavations. 
It is high time that appropriate measures be taken to prevent the 
recurrence of such accidents and public inconvenience caused by wanton road 
diggings and other road works. 
This bill, therefore, is being introduced to require all entities, whether 
public or private, to put up large billboards indicating or announcing the timetable 
for the start and termination of road diggings, repairs and road constructions, the 
same to be placed on the sites where such road works are to be made. This way, 
the public would know when to expect the return to normal use of the particular 
road in question. 
The approval of this legislation is earnestly requested. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE, 
Senate Bill No. 1,2 3 8 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
TO PREVENT WANTON AND INDISCRIMINATE ROAD DIGGINGS AND 
ROAD REPAIRS BY REQUIRING THE PUTTING UP OF CONSPICUOUS 
SIGNAGE OR LARGE BILLBOARDS ON THE SITES OF SUCH ROAD 
WORKS ANNOUNCING THE COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION DATES 
THEREOF, IMPOSING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the. House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Any entity or firm, whether public or private, which shall 
undertake an underground digging or excavation on any national or local road in 
connection with a project, undertakes any road repair or road construction 
project, shall be required to put up on the site where such road excavations, 
repairs or constructions are to be made, a conspicuous signage or large billboard 
indicating the commencement and completion dates of such road works. 
The signage or billboard shall also contain information on the name of the 
entity, firm, or office undertaking the road diggings, repairs or constructions and 
the purpose or the project for which the same is being undertaken. 
SEC. 2. This Act shall cover road diggings, repairs or constructions 
undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the 
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), local government 
units (LGUs), the Maynilad Water System, as Well as those undertaken by private 
entities such as the Philippine Long Distan,ce Company (PLOT) and other 
telecommunication firms, including gas and other utility companies undertaking 
underground works. 
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SEC. 3. All such road diggings, repairs or constructions shall be finished 
and completed on the termination date stated in the billboard. 
SEC. 4. The barangay captains in the city or municipality shall be 
responsible for monitoring compliance with the provisions of this Act and to 
immediately report any violations thereof to the office of the city or municipal 
mayor concerned which shall take appropriate action in accordance with this Act. 
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SEC. 5. Any violation of the provIsions of this Act, including the 
abandonment or non-completion of the roa(j digging, repair or construction 
project within the announced scheduled period of completion, shall be penalized 
with imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months, or a fine of not 
less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,OOO.OO), nor not more than Fifty Thousand 
Pesos (P50,OOO.OO), or both such fine and imprisonment: Provided, That if the 
violation is committed by a partnership, corporation, or association, or by an 
agency or instrumentality of the government , or by a government-owned or 
controlled corporation, the penalty shall be imposed upon the manager, 
director/s, or official/s responsible for, or in charge of, the project involving the 
road digging repair or construction. 
SEC. 6. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts 
thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 7. 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, 
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