Mt Prov Rep Dalog files 10 bills; all pass first reading

By Erlindo Agwilang

QUEZON CITY -- Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr. filed 10 measures on his first day of office last July 1, all of which were approved on first reading by majority members of the House of Representatives on July 23.

All bills were referred to appropriate committees for evaluation and deliberation.

Most of the priority bills Dalog filed to passed into law were on education, particularly separation and conversion of several high schools into independent national high schools like Guina-ang National High School Mainit Extension in the municipality of Bontoc to Mainit National High School, Lubon National High School Mabalite Extension in the municipality of Tadian to Mabalite National High School, Guinzadan National High School Mayag Extension in the municipality of Bauko to Mayag National High School, and the establishment of Wellie Maclinic Elementary School located at Bacarri, Paracelis.

Dalog also re-filed significant edicts previously championed by his father, the late Rep. Maximo B. Dalog, Sr., which did not see passage into law due to his demise and time constraint.

This are House Bill 728 declaring the municipality of Barlig as a tourism development area, HB 730 converting the Besao, Mountain Province – Tubo, Abra Road into a national road, HB 732 converting the Sagada-Besao-Quirino, Ilocos Sur into a national road, HB 733 converting the Mountain Province -Benguet Road via Guinzadan-Mankayan Section into a national road.

He also refiled HB 2714 which will abolish the Baguio-Bontoc Halsema Highway national toll road and stop collection of fees.

In related developments, Benguet Rep. Nestor Fongwan committed to file and co-sponsor another measure which will also terminate the collection of toll fees along the portion of Benguet (Kennon Road) from Klondyke’s Spring to camp six, repealing Executive Order No. 34, series of 1954.

In an interview, Dalog said the house measures he filed are all consistent with his resolve to pursue the legislative agenda as promised during the campaign and to continue the plans, programs and projects of his late father, the late Congressman Maximo B. Dalog, Jr.

“Much will still be done and we are going to sponsor more laws to benefit the legislative district of Mountain Province as we move further,” he said.