House Decision to Abolish Road Board Pleases Palace

Malacañang is "pleased" to know that the House of Representatives has decided to heed the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to abolish the Road Board which he said was involved in corruption surrounding the use of road tax.

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said Congress will support Duterte's call a day after the President expressed support to the opinion of senators that the graft-ridden Road Board should be abolished.

"We are pleased to know that the House of Representatives has listened to the voice of the people who have long been outraged by the corruption surrounding the use of the said tax," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Earlier, Andaya claimed that Duterte wanted to keep the Road Board and rejected statements made by Panelo and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno that he wanted it abolished.

"Rep. Andaya is finally in touch with reality contrary to his claim that Secretary Diokno and I were out of touch with the President in the matter of the latter's position on the road users' tax," Panelo said.

Earlier, the Senate and the House of Representatives approved the abolition of the Board, but the lower chamber moved to revoke it.

Under the leadership of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the House withdrew its approval of the bill that was passed during the time of former House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

The Road Board manages the Motor Vehicle User's Charge (MVUC) which has a balance of PHP45 billion.

MVUC funds are supposed to be spent exclusively for road maintenance and improvement of road drainage, traffic lights and road safety devices installations and air pollution control.

Duterte said he wanted to Road Board abolished describing it as a "milking cow of people who are corrupt in government.”

"Ever since, I've really questioned the existence of this office. It's nothing but a depository of money and for corruption. Walang ibang purpose 'yan (It has no other purpose)," Duterte said.