It’s official: Duterte abolishes Road Board

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has signed into law a measure abolishing the Road Board that he once described as a “milking cow” of corrupt officials.

Republic Act No. 11239, which dismantled the board and required the government to remit collections from the motor vehicle users’ charge to the National Treasury, was signed into law on March 8.

The proposal to abolish the Road Board was one of the contentious issues that delayed the passage of this year’s P3.757-trillion budget. It reportedly sparked a quarrel between then budget secretary Benjamin Diokno and some lawmakers who accused him of inserting some P75 billion in the budget without Duterte’s approval. Diokno, now the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, has denied any wrongdoing.

Former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez had claimed that the rift had something to do with the P45-billion road user’s tax controlled by the Road Board. He had accused the allies of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of seeking to control the collection from the road user’s tax.

Alvarez, ousted as speaker by Arroyo’s allies last year, had also claimed that Road Board officials were conniving with some lawmakers in collecting commissions from contractors.

At the height of the controversy, then House majority leader Ronaldo Andaya, Jr. claimed that Duterte had agreed to retain the Road Board. The President denied this and insisted the corruption-prone body should be abolished.

Under the new law, the public works department shall absorb the employees of the secretariat of the Road Board without reducing their salaries and benefits. Employees who will not be absorbed will receive separation benefits.

Proceeds of the motor vehicle users’ charge shall be remitted to the National Treasury under a special account in the General Fund to be earmarked solely for the construction, upgrading, repair and rehabilitation of roads, bridges and road drainage to be included in the annual national budget.

The alleged questionable use of motor vehicle users’ charge was one of the issues raised by lawmakers in pushing for the abolition of the Road Board.

The Commission on Audit has also raised several issues on the board’s operations, including its supposed failure to effectively implement some road programs, the inefficient use of some facilities and equipment and alleged failure to comply with regulations that resulted in irregular expenditures.

Under the new law, the public works department will assume all obligations and liabilities of the Road Board. The board’s records, property, assets, equipment and funds will also be transferred to the department.

A Congressional Oversight committee that will monitor the implementation of the law imposing the motor vehicle user’s charge will be created. The committee will be composed of five members each from the House of Representatives and the Senate. One member from each chamber should be from the minority.

Total motor vehicle users’ charge reached P166.18 billion from 2001 to May 2018, according to a recent statement issued by the Senate.

Duterte has also signed a law regulating the registration, licensure and practice of occupational therapy and extending the franchise of a broadcasting firm.

Republic Act No. 11241 or the Philippine Occupational Therapy Law of 2018 was enacted on March 11.

The new law will create a board that will promulgate, administer and enforce rules governing occupational therapy. It will consist of a chairman and two members appointed by the president.

Occupational therapists will be required to take licensure examination. An applicant should obtain a general average of 75 percent with no grade lower than 60 percent in any subject to be qualified to practice.

Meanwhile, Republic Act No. 11240, which extended the franchise of Philippine Broadcasting Corp. by 25 years, was signed into law last March 8.