Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives has readied its wrecking ball anew, this time on the Road Board, which the Commission on Audit has frequently assailed for various irregularities in the use of the multi-billion peso Motor Vehicle User’s Charge.
Congressmen on Wednesday approved on second reading House Bill 7436 which seeks to abolish the Road Board and transfer its functions to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The approval came two days after the chamber likewise passed on second reading House Bill 7376 that will abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.
HB 7376 consolidated at least six legislative proposals that sought to further strengthen the powers of the Office of the Solicitor General by giving it the functions of the PCGG and the OGCC.
Created under Republic Act 8794, the Road Board oversees the collection of the MVUC or the Road User’s Tax and allocates the fund to finance road maintenance and improvement projects, the installation of traffic lights, road safety devices, and air pollution control.
Its abolition is contained in seven different legislative measures authored by congressmen led by House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez. (Ben R. Rosario)
