One of the significant laws I have co-authored is Republic Act No. 8794, also known as the “Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) Law.” It was enacted in June 2000 to ensure proper maintenance of national and provincial roads for the safety of the motoring public. The rationale for the creation of this law is to maximize the benefits of the user’s charge payments to the motorists.
We live in a tropical country that experiences severe rains and flooding for almost half of the year. The rain water that accumulates in the road side weakens the base course, and damages the asphalt and concrete roads. We need clean and uncluttered drainages covering our entire road network to ensure that the roads remain in good condition despite the rains. It is ideal to have at least one personnel, per two kilometers of our national roads, to oversee and maintain them.
All revenues collected from the MVUC are earmarked solely and used exclusively for, 1) maintenance of roads and improvement of drainages to prevent flooding that contributes to the deterioration of asphalt and concrete roads; 2) installation of adequate and efficient traffic lights, street signs, and other road safety devices to prevent vehicular accidents; and 3) air pollution control to prevent the adverse effects of air pollution to our respiratory health.
Under the law, a Road Board was created to deliver the abovementioned functions. It shall be composed of seven (7) members, headed by the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways. Other members shall include the Secretaries of Finance, Budget Management, Transportation, and three (3) representatives from motorist and transport groups.
It has come to my attention that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez recently called for the abolition of the Road Board and reassignment of its functions to the DOTr and DPWH through House Bill No. 6236. His reason mainly is to prevent misuse of the Road Fund worth Php 14 billion from 2001 to June 2016, after a Commission on Audit report revealed the alleged misuse of Road Users’ Tax from 2002 to 2013.
In Road Board’s defense, the allegations of fund misuse pertained to the transactions of the previous administration. With the new Road Board leadership, I am confident that the Road Fund is in good hands. According to the Road Board, it is now being controlled and supervised by the Office of the President, “to prevent dissipation of MVUC funds and malfeasance of public officials”. Furthermore, the Road Board has already coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies for the conduct of investigation and filing of necessary legal cases against those who have counterfeited public documents to facilitate fund transfers.
While I understand the good intentions of the Speaker, I would like to reiterate the importance of the Road Board in carrying out functions beneficial to the motoring public. The Road Board is the product of a well-crafted and well-intentioned law, but like majority of our laws, the real problem is in the implementing agency.
