House of Representatives, Quezon City– Despite opposition from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the seeming “lukewarm” stand of some lawmakers from the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Special Committee on North Luzon Growth Quadrangle approved House Bill 4570, a measure seeking to abolish the Baguio-Bontoc Halsema Highway National Toll Road and terminating the collection of toll fees therein.
The principal sponsor, Representative Maximo B. Dalog of the lone district of Mountain Province reiterated the need to unburden motorists particularly the farmers regularly using the route to transport vegetables and farm products from toll fee collection, which he believed is actually being collected redundantly considering that the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge is also being imposed by the government to motor vehicle owners.
Of the 28 committee members, only Baguio representative Mark O. Go was opposed to the measure saying there is no compelling reason to terminate the collection of fees. Although in favor, Representatives Ronald M. Cosalan (Benguet, lone district) and Allen Jesse Mangaoang (Kalinga, lone district) who are also co-authors of the bill said they were concerned about the 12 current employees who may be displaced once the toll road is abolished.
Representative Luisa Lloren Cuaresma of the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya was quick to guarantee that the employees affected will not be removed as they can be easily absorbed by their mother unit in the department considering that their positions are plantilla items.
After hearing all the positions and comments of the committee members present and resource persons from the DPWH, HB 4570 was approved subject to the compliance of the agency to resolve the issue over the 12 plantilla positions that will be affected.
Also submitted to the committee were various manifestations and resolutions supporting the abolition from the different local government units of Mountain Province, Benguet and Baguio City namely: the City Council of Baguio City, Association of Barangay Captain of Baguio City, City Councilors League of Tabuk City, Governor-Province of Benguet, Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Benguet, Sangguniang Bayan of Mankayan, Benguet, Sangguniang Bayan of La Trinidad, Benguet, Sangguniang Bayan of Kabayan, Benguet, Sangguniang Bayan of Buguias, Benguet, Governor-Province of Mountain Province, Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mountain Province, Sanggunian Bayan of Sagada, Mountain Province, Sangguniang Bayan of Besao, Mountain Province, Sangguniang Bayan of Sadanga, Mountain Province and the Sangguniang Bayan of Bontoc, Mountain Province.** Erlindo Agwilang, Jr.
