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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATVESZ,,>
Quezon City a

NINETEENTH CONGRESS ‘
First Regular Session

3313

HOUSE BILL No,

Introduced by: HONORABLE ROSEMARIE C. PANOTES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create a separate district engineering office for the Second District of
Camarines Norte that will have jurisdiction over the Municipalities of Basud, Daet, Mercedes. San
Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Talisay, and Vinzons, all located in the said legislative district.

The clamor for the creation of a separate district engineering office started in 2009 when
Congress passed Republic Act No. 9725, which divided the lone legislative district of the Province
of Camarines Norte into two (2) legislative districts. There were numerous requests presented to
the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and even reached the Office of the
President but all efforts of political leaders on this issue came to naught as these proposals were
not acted upon,

Fortunately, the urgency for the creation of a separate district engineering office for each
legislative district has been recognized when the DPWH issued Department Order No. 74, Series
of 2022, which created the Camarines Norte Sub-District Engineering Office (Camarines Norte
Second District Engineering Office) from the existing Camarines Norte District Engineering
Office in the Province of Camarines Norte. However, there are certain limitations in terms of
creating pantilla positions, operationalization and other factors that require appropriations in
Department Orders and similar issuances unlike in an Act of Congress, which will already
authorize the disbursement of public funds, and has a degree of permanence unless repealed by a
subsequent Act of Congress.

‘The foregoing reasons warrant the immediate approval of this bill.

rosemarht/ttiores

Representative
Second District, Camarines Norte



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

| wp, 3313

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: HONORABLE ROSEMARIE C. PANOTES

AN ACT
CREATING A DISTRICT ENGI RING OFFICE IN THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. A district engineering office is hereby created in the Second Legislative
District of the Province of Camarines Norte, to be located in the Municipality of Daet and referred
to as the Second District Engineering Office.

SEC. 2. The Second District Engineering Office shall serve the municipalities of Basud,
Daet, Mercedes, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Talisay, and Vinzons, all located in the Second
Legislative District of the Province of Camarines Norte.

SEC. 3. The Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall include in the Department’s
program the operationalization of the Second District Engineering Office in the Province of
‘Camarines Norte, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,