Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2132

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ADRIAN MICHAEL A. AMATONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to convert the Baliguian Coastal Road, which stretches
from the boundary of the Municipality of Gutalac in Barangay Mamawan to
Barangay Kauswagan, all in the Municipality of Baliguian in the Province of
Zamboanga del Norte, into a national road to be known as the Gutalac-
Baliguian Road.

‘The Baliguian Coastal Road connects the municipalities in the northern
part of the 3"! District of Zamboanga del Norte to the far-flung municipalities of
Baliguian, Siocon, Sirawai, and Sibuco (also called Triple S-B). While there is
already the Zamboanga West Coast Road that links those municipalities, said
road stretching has been closed in several instances due to landslides and
slips, especially on the stretch of 30.9 kilometers where it passes through
mountainous terrain and forested areas. Thus, the Baliguian Coastal Road has
been constructed in order to serve as an alternate route, as it is found by the
District Engineer to be more feasible with flatter slopes, shorter road length,
and greater accessibility to the coastal barangays of Baliguian where most of
the population of the municipality lives.

‘The necessity of converting the Baliguian Coastal Road into a national
road is further emphasized in its inclusion as a priority project in the
Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Development Plan for 2017-2022 of the
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)- Region IX. The
Development Plan provides that the Baliguian Coastal Road would “strengthen
the physical and economic linkages among growth centers and rural areas”
and “provide better connectivity for the primary, secondary, bypass and
diversion road networks that will improve transport systems and facilitate
efficient movement of agriculture and fishery products, people, and services in
Zamboanga Peninsula.” Moreover, the Baliguian Coastal Road is one of the
eight road projects funded under the “Improving Growth Corridors in
Mindanao Sector Project” of the Asian Development Bank.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought

AD LA. AMATONG


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2132

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ADRIAN MICHAEL A. AMATONG

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE ROAD STRETCHING FROM THE BOUNDARY OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF GUTALAC IN BARANGAY MAMAWAN TO BARANGAY
KAUSWAGAN, ALL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BALIGUIAN,
PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, INTO A NATIONAL ROAD,
TO BE KNOWN AS THE GUTALAC-BALIGUIAN NATIONAL ROAD,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The road stretching from the boundary of the Municipality of
Gutalac in Barangay Mamawan to Barangay Kauswagan, Municipality of
Baliguian in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte, also known as the Baliguian
Coastal Road, is hereby converted into a national road to be known as the
Gutalac-Baliguian Road.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall include in the
Department's program the improvement, repair, and maintenance of the said
road, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,