LINGAYEN – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has authorized Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. to enter into on behalf of the province of Pangasinan a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the implementation of the Special Local Road Fund (SLRF) under RA 8794 or Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC) Law.
In sponsoring the resolution, Board Member Generoso Tulagan cited the provision of the MVUC Law which states under Section 1 that “it is the policy of the State to provide for and ensure the adequate maintenance of national and provincial roads through sufficient funding for the purpose.”
The law further provides under Section 7 that all money collected under the Act shall be earmarked solely and used exclusively for road maintenance and improvement of road drainage, installation of adequate and efficient traffic lights and road safety devices, and for air pollution control.
The Tulagan resolution stated that five percent of all money collected shall be deposited under the SLRF which shall be apportioned to provincial and city government in accordance with the vehicle population and size of road network under their respective jurisdiction, and which fund shall be under DPWH in close coordination with the DILG for the transfer of funds to local government units.
While the province was required to accomplish documentary requirements prior to the release of the fund allocation, one of which is a MOA for the purpose of delineating responsibilities regarding the implementation of the SLRF/2015/MVUC Projects.
Projects to be implemented under this program include the concreting of Maniboc-Pangapisan-Sabangan Road in Lingayen with a project cost of P15,002,019.84; concreting of Mangatarem-Urbiztondo Road, Mangatarem, Pangasinan with a project cost of P18,002,781.63; concreting of Malasiqui-Catablan Road, Malasiqui, Paqngasinan with a project cost of P9,002,087.09; concreting of Tarlac Boundary-Bayambang Diversion Road in Bayambang with a project cost of P9,003,195.00; and the concreting of Asingan-San Manuel-Agno Gorge Road with a project cost of P5,002,731.38.
By Dexter A. See
