The House Committee on Public Works and Highways has approved the proposed renaming of at least seven national roads in Rizal province to Jose Rizal Highway, as a tribute to the country’s national hero.
The panel chaired by Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan (Lone District, Benguet) passed House Bill 6130 authored principally by Rep. Romeo M. Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City) prior to the congressional adjournment.
“The bill seeks to rename certain national roads in the province of Rizal to Jose Rizal Highway in honor of a distinguished Filipino nationalist regarded by many as ‘The Pride of the Malay Race; and foremost Filipino who ever lived,” said Acop.
Out of 80 provinces in the country, Acop said only the Province of Rizal was named after Jose Rizal.
“On November 12, 2012, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Rizal passed Resolution No. 254 requesting His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III to rename certain national roads in the Province of Rizal to Jose Rizal Highway,” said Acop.
Acop said Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a man of incredible intellectual power, with amazing artistic talent as well.
“He was a nationalist, novelist, poet, ophthalmologist, journalist and revolutionary. He is widely considered as one of the greatest heroes, if not the national hero, of the Philippines,” said Acop, chairman of the House Committee on Government Reorganization.
Furthermore, Acop said Rizal called for peaceful reform of Spain’s colonial rule in the country. “After his public execution in 1896, opposition to Spanish rule grew stronger. Spurred on by Rizal’s martyrdom, the Philippine Revolution continued until 1898 when the country declared its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898,” said Acop.
“It was the first democratic republic in Asia. Jose Rizal remains a nationalist icon in the country for helping it take its first steps toward independence,” said Acop.
House Bill 6130 provides the renaming of the following National Roads in Rizal to Jose Rizal Highway: from Kay Tikling Junction to Taytay Diversion Road up to the Manila East Road in Taytay; from the Manila East Road, Taytay to Barangay Muzon, Taytay;
From Barangay Muzon to Angono Diversion Road and up to the Manila East Road, Barangay Pag-asa, Binangonan; from the Manila East Road, Barangay Pag-asa to Binangonan Diversion Road up to Binangonan-Cardona boundary; from Binangonan-Cardona boundary to Looc-Calahan Diversion Road up to the Manila East Road going to Morong and up to Sagbat Junction, Morong;
From Sagbat Junction to Sagbat-Pililla Road up to the Halayhayin Junction, Manila East Road in Pililla; and from Halayhayin Junction to Pililla-Jalajala Road up to the Rizal-Laguna boundary.
The Department of Public Works and Highways shall place appropriate markers along these National Roads and issue the necessary orders and circulars to implement the Act.
The bill is co-authored by Reps. Robert V. Puno (1st District, Antipolo City), a Deputy Speaker, Joel Roy R. Duavit (1st District, Rizal) and Isidro S. Rodriguez, Jr. (2nd District, Rizal).
Source: http://www.congress.gov.ph
