Since the present allocation for local roads averages P10 million per local government unit, enough to cover only half the cost of repairs for one kilometer concrete road, Senator Imee Marcos wants to remedy this “underinvestment” of past government administrations.
Marcos filed Senate Bill No. 224 to “institutionalize” the Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Her proposed measure would ensure funding for the road construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, and upgrade.
“Twenty years of underinvestment has left local roads in poor-to-bad condition and in a disconnected state,” Marcos said.
The measly allocation for local roads comes from a mere 5 percent of road users' fees collected by the Land Transportation Office, turned over to the Special Local Road Fund, and apportioned to LGUs according to their road length and vehicle count.
"We must link cities with far-flung areas to enhance the mobility of people and the transport of goods and services that will maximize the gains that could be made in local trade, agriculture, and tourism," she added.