Responsibility for Road Improvement and Maintenance
- The Secretary of the DPWH is mandated to include the Marcos Alvarez road in the department’s program.
- This inclusion involves the improvement, maintenance, and repair of the road.
- Funding for these activities shall be allocated through the annual General Appropriations Act, ensuring regular budgeting by the national government.
Effectivity of the Act
- The law takes effect immediately upon approval.
- Notably, the Act lapsed into law without the signature of the President on March 16, 2013, pursuant to Article VI, Section 27(1) of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines.
Legislative and Procedural Details
- The Act originated in the House of Representatives and was finally passed by the House on March 23, 2011 and by the Senate on December 18, 2012.
- It was signed by the Presiding Officers of both Houses and the Secretaries of their respective chambers.
- The lapse into law without the President’s signature reflects the constitutional mechanism allowing a bill to become law if the President does not act within a certain period.
Key Legal and Administrative Implications
- By converting the road to national status, it ensures higher priority for funding and maintenance under the national government.
- This change shifts responsibility from local government units to a national department, which typically has greater capacity and resources.
- The inclusion in the DPWH program institutionalizes continuous governance and technical oversight, improving road standards and service to the public.