TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PNA) — Barely has he been proclaimed a winner in the just-held polls, Gov. Erico Aumentado, congressman-elect representing Bohol’s second district, has hit the ground running by drafting 10 priority bills which he says he intends to finalize on the first day of Congress.

First on his list is a bill which seeks to convert into national roads the components of the so-called Anda Peninsula Highway, covering provincial roads along the Guindulman-Anda-Cogtong-Candijay-Mabini-Ubay stretch and the Baclayon Diversion Road and Tagbilaran by-pass road, which are included in the eyed P1.4-billion Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement phase 3, to qualify for funding under Official Development Assistance by the Korean government.

Aumentado intends to file the bill by first week of July with third district Congressman-elect Arthur Yap, who has just been appointed Vice President for External Affairs of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, as co-author.
Aumentado will also prioritize legislature proposing the establishment of a special economic zone in the second district of Bohol. Eyed site for such economic zone is Talibon, for which Talibon Mayor Juanario Item has committed some 110 hectares.

The Bohol congressman-elect also plans to amend the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 or Republic Act No. 8435, and lobby for 30 percent of the Department of Agriculture’s total budget for irrigation.

He says this will be another bill which he intends to ask Yap, formerly Agriculture Secretary, to co-author.

Aumentado also said he will likewise propose measures strengthening the charter of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

Likewise on his list of priorities will be proposed legislature that would create the Public Works Reform Act, addressing prevailing complaints on corruption and substandard worksmanship in the implementation of road projects.

Such proposed Act will also require the computerized mixing of cement and asphalt to ensure quality worksmanship on road projects, especially on asphalt overlaying.

It will include the penal sanction for failure to comply with the layer-per-layer soil compaction and stabilization.

Another bill which Aumentado intends to file will be one which will propose the establishment of a Bureau of Barangay Roads in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to relieve barangays from the burden of road maintenance.

Aumentado has arranged a meeting with Department of Public Works and Highways Senior Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan on May 20 to discuss his proposal for the setting up of a barangay roads bureau which he is eyeing for integration with barangay master-planning to be piloted in Bohol’s second district.