Roosevelt is now Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue

President Duterte signs R.A. No. 11608 - an act which renames Roosevelt Ave after Da King

Remember when the Senate approved House Bill No. 7499 that will see the renaming of Roosevelt Avenue after ‘Da King’? President Rodrigo Duterte has just signed it into law.

Under Republic Act No. 11608, Roosevelt Avenue located in Quezon City has now officially been renamed Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue.

With it, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now tasked with issuing the necessary rules, orders, and circulars to implement the provisions of this Act within 60 days from its effectivity. Moreover, R.A. No. 11608 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Originally, the bill sought to rename Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City. However, Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III made an amendment before the second reading of the bill - which led to the renaming of Roosevelt Avenue instead.

According to the Senate President, the renaming of Del Monte Avenue was met with opposition from various church groups, the National Historic Commission, as well as local residents living in the area. They said that the renaming of Del Monte Avenue will negate the historical, cultural, and religious significance of the avenue.

The undisputed King of Philippine Action Movies died last December 2004 due to thrombosis with multiple organ failure caused by a stroke. He slipped into a coma before ultimately passing away at the age of 65. He leaves behind a 46-year career that spanned around 300 action movies.

If you happen to frequently drive along Roosevelt Avenue, don’t be surprised to see new signs being put up with the name ‘Fernando Poe Jr.’ Avenue in the coming weeks. Heck, we won’t be surprised if people start calling it FPJ Avenue for short.

While this is a nice gesture to honor Da King - since his ancestral home is located on Roosevelt Avenue - we’re not entirely sure if this is the right time to do it. After all, we are still in the thick of a pandemic and cases are still on the rise. #Priorities