MANILA -- Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson should explain why some roads damaged by Tropical Storm Sendong in Misamis Oriental late last year have yet to be rehabilitated, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Friday.
Pimentel, who hails from the said province, noted the bad roads when he went from Cagayan de Oro City to Butuan City via Misamis Oriental and asked why such an important highway has been left in a state of disrepair.
By comparison, the senator said he had received complaints from commuters and motorists questioning the alleged indiscriminate and unnecessary repair of good roads in Metro Manila as well as the San Luis road in Pampanga.
Still undergoing repair is the 300-meter portion of the Sto. Domingo-San Luis-Bahay Pari road located at km. 70 near the Chapel of Sta. Monica, San Luis, Pampanga, which reportedly used to be in good condition.
"It is indeed puzzling why roads in perfect condition are being subjected to maintenance and improvement works while those damaged by Sendong have been neglected for months. Why do we have to rebuild good roads while other places do not even have roads at all?" he said.
Meanwhile, Pimentel asked Singson, who sits as chairman of the interagency Road Board, to account how the multi-billion revenues collected from the motor vehicle users' charge (MVUC), also known as the road user's tax, are being used.
If the Road Board would fail to account in full the revenues from the road user's tax, Pimentel said he might push for the abolishment of the board that has been linked to some corrupt activities. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)