BACOLOD City District Engineer Abraham Villareal of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Thursday, September 14, that the abolition of the Road Board will not affect the implementation of the projects in the city.
“If ever it will be abolished, it will not affect us because the DPWH will also take over their duties,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier announced that he would ask Congress to draft a measure that would abolish the two agencies, the Road Board and Sugar Regulatory Administration.
Villareal said the Road Board was created under Republic Act 8794 to impose a motor vehicle user’s charge on owners of all types of motor vehicles.
Bacolod City Representative Greg Gasataya said this matter will depend on the recommendations of the committee on public works.
He said several complaints were aired against the Road Board on the utilization of budget.
Gasataya noted that last year, he submitted a request to the Road Board to replace the street lighting system in Bacolod, but it was not acted upon.
“We requested for the improvement of lighting system in the city and the budget should be taken from the Road Board and not the DPWH, but until now it's still pending,” the lawmaker said.
Moreover, Gasataya expressed reservations on the proposed abolition of the SRA.
“The sugar industry needs an agency that will concentrate on the sugar industry alone. Once it will be abolished, it’s difficult to be managed by the Department of Agriculture. This issue should be studied,” he added.