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Friday, August 26, 2005
Martinez denies P37M share in road users’ tax
Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III denied that there is a road users’ tax allocation of more than P37 million for the fourth district of Cebu from the National Government.
Martinez said that after hearing the news, he immediately called up his mother and was informed that the initial budget was only P10 million but the disbursement was also deferred.
“There was a actually a listing for P10 million but then it was deferred. There was never any allocation for P37.8 million,” the younger Martinez said.
Josefa Manugas, the first engineering district’s accountant of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), echoed Martinez’s denial.
She explained that they have not received that amount and that if there is such a fund, the congresswoman would not be able to get hold of the money as it will go straight to their office.
The DPWH first engineering district covers the fourth congressional district which, incidentally, the congresswoman wants converted into the province of Cebu del Norte.
“When we read about the allocation, although its not yet confirmed, we found it impossible because we know the national government has no money. But it gave the wrong assumption to the people that the congressmen already received it,” Martinez said.
But he also hopes there will be an allocation for the district.
First engineering district head Mario Montejo reportedly told Martinez that their district received the lowest allocation for this year, compared to other districts in Cebu.
Congresswoman Martinez was named as among the representatives who received allocations from the Road Users’ Tax Fund.
President Arroyo has decided to cancel the P2.2-billion fund to avoid insinuations she was using it to kill the impeachment complaints against her.
The President has instructed Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and Budget Secretary Romulo Neri to cancel the entire allocation. (MBG)
(August 26, 2005 issue)
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