President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law renaming Roosevelt Avenue located in Legislative District 1 of Quezon City as Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) Avenue.
Under Republic Act No. 11608 signed by Duterte on Dec. 10, 2021 and released Thursday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will issue the necessary rules, orders, and circulars to implement the provisions of this Act within 60 days from its effectivity.
The Act, which originated in the House of Representatives, was passed by the House on September 9, 2020 amended by the Senate on Sept. 13, 2021, and which amendments were concurred in by the House of Representatives on Sept. 27, 2021.
The original House and Senate bills initially sought to rename Del Monte Avenue (traversing Barangays Nayong Kanluran, Paltok, Paraiso, Del Monte, Damayan, Masambong, Talayan, Manresa, Siena, St. Peter, San Jose, and Amoranto).
However, Catholic groups have protested against the renaming of Del Monte Avenue because of its profound religious significance as the site of the first Christian community in Quezon City.
An amendment was later introduced to instead rename Roosevelt Avenue as it is where Poe’s ancestral home is located.
The 2.9-kilometer road starts from Quezon Avenue in Barangay Santa Cruz and ends at the intersection of Edsa.
Regarded as the “King” of Philippine movies for several decades, FPJ passed away on Dec. 14, 2004 at the age of 65, only months after his failed presidential bid.
He died due to thrombosis with multiple organ failure after suffering from a stroke and slipping into a coma.
In his 46-year-career as an actor, he starred in around 300 action films.
He was posthumously declared as a National Artist in 2012.
Meanwhile, Duterte also signed the following laws on Dec. 10, 2021:
*RA 11603 an act renaming the portion of the Mountain Province Boundary-Calanan-Enrile Road stretching from the Antonio Canao Bridge in Barangay Calanan, traversing through barangays Bulanao and Ipil, up to the Alliog Bridge in Barangay Nambaran, all in the City of Tabuk in the Province of Kalinga, as Manuel S. Agyao Boulevard;
*RA 11605 an act converting the Sagada-Besao-Quirino, Ilocos Sur Road into a national road;
*RA 11606 an act classifying the San Fernando Bypass Road and San Fernando Bypass Extension Road in the Province of La Union into national roads;
*RA 11607 an act renaming the Marawi-Maguing-Bumbaran-Wao Road, stretching from the City of Marawi, traversing through the municipalities of Maguing, Bumabaran and Wao, all in the province of Lanao del Sur, as Gov. Mamintal M. Adiong Sr. National Road (PNA)
