LAWMAKERS of Benguet’s capital town is supporting the calls for the abolition of the controversial road board.
Members of La Trinidad’s municipal council on Tuesday approved a resolution introduced by Councilor Arthur Shontogan strongly supporting the abolition of the road board created by Republic Act No. 8794 and transferring its powers and functions to the Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Transportation.
“President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned the abolition of road board with the allegation of corruption. In La Trinidad alone, a project is being implemented, and up to now we are not informed as to when that will be finished,” Shontogan said.
Previously, the council passed resolutions asking the National Road Board for the installation of LED Roadway Luminaires and construction of geometric and footings along the Halsema Highway but was never acted upon.
With no information of the status of the project, Shontogan added they might be caught unaware as to how much money was used for the consumption of streetlights.
“Is it cheaper comparing to the existing street lights we are paying, that is our fear,” he said.
The approved resolution also stated the Commission on Audit exposed the illegal utilization of Road Users Tax which should have been enjoyed by taxpayers and ended up being allocated for another use.
“Noting the irregularities in the utilization of Road Tax and considering that the Road board is merely a duplicate function of DPWH, the local government supports the abolition of the Road Board and transferring its functions to DPWH and DOTr,” the resolution added.
Aside from the street lights, the council is also eyeing to create another resolution for the abandoned construction of an overpass in Kilometer 5 intersection near the newly constructed and first traffic lights in the valley.