Duterte signs law abolishing Road Board

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

Republic Act No. 11239, which dismantles the board and requires the government to remit collections from the Motor Vehicle Users' Charge to the National Treasury, was signed into law last 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 House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former president, of seeking to control the collection from Road User's Tax. 

Alvarez, who was 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. 

During the height of the controversy, then House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, Jr. claimed that Duterte had agreed to retain the Road Board but it was denied by the president, who insisted that 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 be separated from the service because of the Road Board abolition 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 MVUC was one of the issues raised by lawmakers who called for the abolition of the Road Board.

The Commission on Audit has also raised several issues on the board' 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.

It will also create a Congressional Oversight committee that will monitor the implementation of the law imposing the MVUC. The committee will be composed of five members of the House of Representatives and five senators. One House member and a senator should come from the minority of each chamber. 

The total collection for the MVUC is P166.18 billion from 2001 to May 2018, according to a recent statement issued by the Senate.

Laws on occupational therapy, broadcast franchise

Duterte has also signed a law that will regulate 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 signed into law last March 11. 

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

All applicants for registration for the practice of occupational therapy will be required to undergo a 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.