Senate OKs bills naming Iloilo roads after Cory, Ninoy, Kokoy Romualdez
The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading three separate bills naming major roads in Iloilo after former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and former Leyte Gov. Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez.
In a statement, Senate President Franklin Drilon said House Bills No. 4400, 4398 and 1042 aimed to “remind our countrymen of the excellence and sacrifice of distinguished Filipinos, and to inspire them to follow the good example set by such men and women.”
The circumferential road from the junction of the Iloilo-Dumangas Coastal Road in Balabago, Jaro, in Iloilo will be named President Corazon C. Aquino Avenue, in accordance to House Bill No. 4400.
“The circumferential road is projected to decongest the city’s roads which are servicing vital access points like the Iloilo international airport, and features a 2.5-meter wide bicycle lane exclusively for nonmotorized pedestrians,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the national highway along the Iloilo Diversion/Iloilo Capiz Road, from General Luna to the airport access roads up to the gate of the Iloilo International Airport, will be known as the Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue, as proposed by House Bill No. 4398.
House Bill No. 1042, meanwhile, seeks to name the diversion road in Tacloban City Gov. Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez Diversion Road.
According to the guidelines of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on the renaming of public places after persons, “no public place should be named or renamed after a person within 10 years of his death except for highly exceptional reasons.”
Senate said the commission waived this rule for Romualdez, who died only in February 2012, “because of his valuable service and contribution.”
“Street, plaza or any public place may be named or renamed to honor a person or family who contributed to the welfare of the Filipino people,” NHCP said.
The three measures were sponsored by Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., chair of the Senate committee on local government.
In May, the House committee on public works and highways also approved a bill renaming the North Luzon Expressway the President Corazon C. Aquino Expressway. RC
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