Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9197)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 9197 is to convert the Talaba-Summit-Panaon Provincial Road in the Province of Quezon into a national road and to appropriate funds for its maintenance and improvement.
The Talaba-Summit-Panaon Provincial Road connects the municipalities of Unisan and Atimonan in the Province of Quezon.
The length of the road converted into a national road under Republic Act No. 9197 is twenty (20) kilometers.
The Department of Public Works and Highways is responsible for the improvement, maintenance, and repair of the converted national road.
Funding for the maintenance and improvement of the road shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Republic Act No. 9197 took effect upon its approval, which, in this case, lapsed into law on March 13, 2003, without the signature of the President.
Article VI, Section 27 (1) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution allows a bill to lapse into law without the President's signature if not acted upon within a certain period.
The Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways must include in the agency's program the improvement, maintenance, and repair of the converted road.
The law was approved by then Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., with final approval lapsing without the signature of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Converting a provincial road into a national road shifts responsibility for its maintenance and funding from local government units to the national government, specifically the Department of Public Works and Highways.