House Bill No. 7499 unanimously OK'd by the Senate

A major road in Quezon City will be renamed after 'Da King' Fernando Poe Jr.

The undisputed King of Philippine Action movies will soon have a road named after him. The news comes after the Senate unanimously approved on the third and final reading of House Bill No. 7499. As such, Roosevelt Avenue will be renamed Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue.

Members of the Senate voted 22-0-1, with Senator Grace Poe, the daughter of the late action star, abstaining due to conflict of interest.

“I purposely abstained because of our rule that it might be a conflict of interest but in my heart, I am so happy that this passed,” said the Senator.

HB 7499 initially sought to rename Del Monte Avenue, located in Legislative District 1 of Quezon City. However, Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III introduced an amendment before the second reading of the bill – leading to the renaming of Roosevelt Avenue instead.

According to Sotto, the planned renaming of Del Monte Avenue was met with opposition from multiple sectors, including various church groups, the National Historic Commission, and residents living in the area. According to them, renaming the street will negate the historical, cultural, and religious significance of Del Monte Avenue.

Under the House Bill's measure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be tasked with issuing the necessary rules and circulars to implement the said provisions within 60 days of the measure's effectivity.

Fernando Poe Jr. died in December 2004 due to thrombosis with multiple organ failure after suffering a stroke. He then slipped into a coma before ultimately passing away at the age of 65 – leaving behind a 46-year career that spanned around 300 action movies.

Since the actor's ancestral home is located along Roosevelt Avenue, it's a rather fitting gesture to the late 'King'. Though we're not entirely sure if this is the right time to do it, especially with the pandemic still affecting the country.

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