President Rodrigo Duterte conducts an aerial inspection over the typhoon-hit areas in the Bicol region on January 4, 2019. PHOTO from former Special Assistant to the President Christopher 鈥楤ong鈥� Go.
Update (7:35 p.m.)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Rodrigo Duterte wants the multi-billion peso road user鈥檚 tax be used for flood control projects and for dredging rivers in the Bicol region after massive flooding and landslide claimed hundreds of lives there.
Duterte said this in a situation briefing on Friday in Pili town in Camarines Sur as he reiterated his earlier order for the abolition of the graft-ridden Road Board.
鈥淜ausapin ko si Senate President at Speaker, wala ako objection kung tatanggalin, it cannot remain, putang inang corruption (I will talk to the Senate President and Speaker. I have no objection if it is abolished, it cannot remain. Curse corruption),鈥� he said.
鈥淚 will commit to you that the first project undertaken under that fund, I am okay, will start with you,鈥� he added.
He said he does not want to release a single centavo from the controversial road user鈥檚 tax, but he is willing to release the fund if it can be put to good use.
鈥淥kay, I agree. We will work together, they can鈥檛 do anything about it. I will not release a single centavo there, but if it will be put to good use鈥 am okay with it. I will give you that money. We will get that money,鈥� he said.
The President also said听Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairman Eduardo Del Rosario听could also use the money for permanent relocation of residents in safe areas in Albay and Camarines Sur.
鈥淢y promise is, once the road tax money is free, you will be the first recipient sa project,鈥� he said.
READ: Duterte says 鈥榠t鈥檚 time to abolish鈥� Road Board
In December 2018, Duterte said it was 鈥渢ime to abolish the graft-ridden Road Board, which has become a milking cow of corrupt politicians.鈥�
Despite earlier pronouncements that it doesn鈥檛 want the board abolished, the House of Representatives gave in to the order of Duterte and vowed to work with the Senate for its abolition. /ee
READ: Finally, House accepts abolition of Road Board听
PHOTO from former Special Assistant to the President Christopher 鈥楤ong鈥� Go.
PHOTO from former Special Assistant to the President Christopher 鈥楤ong鈥� Go.