Palace: Govt eyes use of ‘special road funds’ to finance Manila Bay cleanup, rehabilitation
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2019 05:48:29 +0000
THE government is considering the use of “special road funds” to finance the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay, Malacanang said on Tuesday.
The use of the road users’ tax for government projects was discussed during the Monday’s Cabinet meeting, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
“The Cabinet also discussed that the special road funds can be used to finance hospital needs and the cleanup of the Manila Bay,” Panelo said.
“A portion of the fund can also be used to benefit those affected by TD (tropical depression) Usman specially those in the Bicol Region,” he said.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu announced the government’s plan to restore Manila Bay to its pristine state fit for recreation.
“We are preparing for an all-out strategy to bring the coliform concentration in Manila Bay to a safe level so that the people who reside near the bay will enjoy its waters and marine resources without fear of getting sick,” Cimatu said in his previous statement.
The Supreme Court, in 2008, issued a continuing writ of mandamus, ordering 13 government agencies to clean up Manila Bay and restore its water quality to Class SB or safe for recreational activities such as swimming.
The President earlier said he wanted to use revenues from the P46-billion road tax to fund the rehabilitation of disaster-affected areas and mitigation purposes, particularly the Bicol region.
“Basta ang pangako ko once that road tax money is freed, you will be the first recipients of projects dito kasi kayo ang tinatamaan palagi (because you’re always hit by disasters),” Duterte said during the situation briefing attended by several Cabinet members and concerned national and local government officials in Camarines Sur last week.
According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Road Board collects P1.5 billion every month, and its estimated balance is pegged at P45 billion.
In the same Cabinet meeting, Panelo said the proposed creation of a new government department to lead disaster mitigation and response in times of calamities and other emergencies was also discussed.
“The importance of the creation of a disaster department was stressed to address the emerging challenges to disaster resiliency,” he said.
Panelo said the Cabinet was also given a briefing on the damage left by Tropical Depression Usman, as well as the relief assistance provided by concerned agencies to calamity victims.
“The meeting ended with the good news noting that the average inflation rate under the Duterte Administration is at 3.6 percent, which falls within the government’s target range of 2-4 percent,” he said. CATHERINE VALENTE
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