By Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA
MANILA — Congressional leaders have agreed to introduce “short and simple” amendments to the bill seeking the abolition of the corruption-ridden Road Board.
This was the result of the meeting between Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya on Tuesday night at a hotel in Makati City.
Zubiri, who described the meeting as “successful,” said they agreed that “all monies collected from the road user’s tax will be remitted to the National Treasury.”
Zubiri added that the fund, which would be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, will be used for the construction, repair and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and road drainage.
He expressed hope that the senators would agree to recall the measure, raising the possibility of a “quick” bicameral conference committee meeting to approve these amendments.
The Senate earlier maintained its position that there is no need for a bicameral conference committee on the Road Board abolition bill since it has already adopted the House version.
Andaya, for his part, said the agreement to “genuinely abolish the Road Board” is a “victory for transparency.”
He said the House leadership maintained its position to treat the road user’s tax or the motor vehicle user’s charge (MVUC) collections as part of the general fund and be earmarked for transport-related activities.
“The House-Senate consensus spared the President of signing a defective bill, which some powerful interests wanted him to. The attempt to hoodwink the President has been foiled,” Andaya said.
President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly called for the abolition of the Road Board, tagging it as a “milking cow” for corruption.
He said he wants to divert the road user’s tax funds to flood control projects.
