(INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� More bills aimed at improving the country鈥檚 infrastructure will be filed during the 20th Congress, Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo said.
Momo said during the 2025 Midyear National Convention of the District Engineers League of the Philippines, Inc. (DELP) on Saturday that he will continue to push for critical measures that will help the country build a strong infrastructure foundation, like the proposed 30-year National Infrastructure Program.
Other bills that he will file, Momo said, include the following:
- amendments to the Road Right of Way Act
- updated National Building Act
- creation of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 14 (BARMM)
To achieve this, Momo said he needs the assistance of the DPWH, noting that district engineers should play an active role in crafting infrastructure-related bills.
鈥淭hat is what unites us today. We are not just builders of roads, bridges, school buildings, evacuation centers, slope protection, and flood control. We are builders of access, opportunity, safe sanctuary in times of disasters, and national development,鈥� Momo, chairperson of the House committee on public works and highways, said.
鈥淭he infrastructure we deliver connects lives and strengthens local economies. Whether it is a road that links a rural barangay to a town center, a school building that opens new bright futures, or a public facility that improves day-to-day life, our work speaks the language of service and dedication,鈥� he added.
Momo assured the public that he will continue to contribute his experience, having come from a long stint with the DPWH.
鈥淣ow that I serve in Congress, I bring with me the perspective and experience of someone who has lived this noble profession,鈥� Momo said.
鈥淚 continue to advocate for greater investment in infrastructure, for practical policies that empower our field offices, and for stronger recognition of the critical role played by district and regional engineers. You are the backbone of our public service delivery, and your role in building this nation deserves unwavering support,鈥� he added.
Momo played a key role in the 19th Congress in terms of the infrastructure-related legislation addressed by the House.听
Last March 31, Momo called for the passage of the proposed Philippine Building Act to ensure that new and existing infrastructure across the country is ready against natural hazards, following a strong earthquake that caused widespread damage in Myanmar and Thailand.
Momo said that the earthquake should be a reminder to prepare for possible scenarios, particularly the feared 鈥淏ig One鈥� quake that seismologists expect to hit Metro Manila in the future.
The proposed Philippine Building Act, as contained in House Bill (HB) No. 8500, was approved by the House last August 2023.听
If approved by the Senate and eventually signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., it would replace the country鈥檚 over four-decades-old National Building Code.
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In 2024, both Momo and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez worked with the DPWH and other agencies to address problems with the flood management master plan for Metro Manila, after monsoon rains caused severe flooding in the region.
READ: Metro Manila flood control plan needs update 鈥� Romualdez, Momo
According to Momo, he and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan will continue to work so that the country can address different challenges to infrastructure projects.
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