Amendments pushed on Right-of-Way Law

MANILA, Philippines — Five measures aimed at resolving issues on right-of-way, which usually hamper the implementation and completion of government infrastructure projects, have been filed at the House of Representatives.

House Bills 2086 of Rep. cSr., 183 of Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., 1973 of Romeo Momo, 2824 of Ralph Recto and 4601 of Bernadette Herrera of the Bagong Henerasyon party-list seek to introduce amendments to Republic Act 10752 or the Right-of-Way Law.

The amendments intend to address the perennial problem of infrastructure projects that have stood in the way of development,  both in major cities and the countryside.

In his sponsorship speech before the House committee on public works and highways headed by Momo, Pleyto urged his fellow lawmakers to harmonize all pending measures intended to amend some provisions of the existing law.

“By harmonizing these proposed amendments, we hope that we can pass the improved Right-of-Way Act during this 19th Congress (2022-2025),” Pleyto said as he pushed for the approval of their measures.

Pleyto, former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), stressed the urgency and importance of passing the measures, noting that problems on right-of-way acquisition delay the completion of government infrastructure projects.

“This further delays the beneficial outcome to the Filipino people to use the needed infrastructure projects, particularly the roads and bridges,” he said.

Among his proposed amendments, Pleyto said, is the absence of a provision in the current law concerning right-of-way in ancestral domains occupied by indigenous peoples.

More often, when roads to be built need to pass through these ancestral domains, the DPWH is experiencing difficulty acquiring alignments, Pleyto said.

The difficulty causes delays in the implementation and completion of the project.

“The implementing agency should coordinate with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and conduct continuous dialogues with the indigenous peoples or community regarding the benefits they can get from the road opening,” Pleyto said.