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Republic of the Philippines f * “
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2ECEIVED @
Quezon City ALY ey
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2714

INTRODUCED BY REP. MAXIMO, JR. Y. DALOG

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 of 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 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
travellers, 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 daily 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 comes 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 eamestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2714
HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REP. MAXIMO, JR. Y. DALOG

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 Cause. 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,