PRESIDENT Duterte is ready to sign into law the bill abolishing the Road Board, Malacañang said on Tuesday, as leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives bickered publicly on the fate of the measure, which both chambers had already approved and endorsed to the Palace, but which the House wanted to recall.
In a press conference, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesman Salvador S. Panelo revealed Duterte supports the position of Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno to scrap the Road Board amid allegations by some lawmakers it is being used for corrupt practices.
“He will sign it as soon as it is given to him,” Panelo said.
“This is what is needed. We want the fund to be returned to the Treasury and then let Congress appropriate again for a specific purpose,” he added.
In its web site, the Road Board said it is a collegial body responsible for the use of the controversial Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC).
Its members include the Secretaries of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Transportation (DOTr), Budget and Management (DBM), and Finance (DOF) and three representatives of private transport organizations.
The Commission on Audit (COA) as well as some lawmakers, however, noted the MVUC is being used other than what it is intended for under the Republic Act (RA) 8794.
RA 8794 states the MVUC could only be used for road maintenance; improvement of road drainage; installation of adequate of road lights and other road safety devices; and air pollution control.
In September, the Senate adopted the version of the bill filed by former House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez abolishing the Road Board, in order to fast-track the process and no longer subject it to bicameral deliberations.
The House of Representatives now led by its new Speaker, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, however, recently rescinded its version of the bill in an apparent attempt to defer it from being signed into law.
Sen. Franklin M. Drilon stressed that the bill is already beyond the control of the House of Representatives and will soon be submitted to Duterte for consideration.
On Tuesday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III declared that, as far as the upper chamber is concerned, the abolition bill has been approved and merely needs the President’s signature.
As of Tuesday, Panelo said the bill has yet to reach the office of Duterte.
Malacañang support
On Sunday, Alvarez claimed Diokno’s refusal to approve the use of the MVUC in the 2019 budget had caused some lawmakers to attack the credibility of the
budget secretary.
During a “Question Hour” at the House last week, Diokno was accused by Majority Floor Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. of inserting P51 billion worth of project in the 2019 budget of DPWH without the approval of Duterte and favoring a contractor, CT Leoncio Construction.
Diokno corrected Andaya, saying the added budget for DPWH was P75 billion and was approved by Duterte. He said it was not an “insertion” but an “augmentation” and perfectly within the regular process of crafting the budget. He also denied any involvement with CT Leoncio Construction.
This was supported by Panelo, who said Duterte saw nothing wrong with the additional DPWH budget as long as it goes to areas which need it.
“What is important, the President said to us, is that there is no corruption in the aligned funds of a particular area,” Panelo said.
Panelo said Diokno still enjoys the trust of the President, despite the “baseless” accusations against him.
“In 32 years of his service, there is nothing that we can throw at him. He was known to be one who says ‘no’ to any irregularity or any favor that is asked of him—and he has been consistent with that,” Panelo said.