Cayetano calls for strict monitoring of road tax

Manila, Philippines - Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano called yesterday for stricter monitoring and audit of the P30-million additional pork barrel allocation that will come from the Road User’s Tax.

Contrary to the denial of Senate finance committee chairman Sen. Franklin Drilon, who said he had no idea how the additional pork allocation came about,  Cayetano revealed yesterday that this was a result of a compromise during budget deliberations last year. He said he has not received any notice about the reported allocation but he welcomes the move for the budget to be scrutinized by lawmakers and local government officials since they are the ones who know more about road improvements needed in their respective areas.

When informed that Sen. Panfilo Lacson has likewise confirmed the additional P30-million on top of the P200-million in pork barrel funds for each senator, Cayetano said he was surprised to find out that a senator who does not accept pork barrel allocations is among the first to know about such perks. But Cayetano stressed there is nothing wrong with it although a stricter monitoring mechanism and audit should be implemented by the Road Board as well as the executive branch. Since the law creating the Road Board allows that the use of money be solely on national roads, Cayetano sees a need to revisit the said law.

“There is a need to revisit the law, and to identify the roads all over the country that need repairs,” Cayetano said.