Sotto to transmit Road Board bill to Malacañang sans Arroyo signature

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said he will transmit the enrolled copy of the bill seeking to abolish the Road Board to Malacañang without the signature of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Upon learning that President Rodrigo Duterte would sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk, Sotto said he will transmit the enrolled bill immediately.

“I’ll transmit it today,” Sotto told reporters in a press conference, explaining that Malacañang only needs to see the copy of the bill that he signed.

“Basta gusto nilang makita ‘yung kopya na pirmado ko eh. Ipapadala ko na today (They only wanted to see the copy that I signed. I’ll send it today),” he added.

Sotto explained that he signed the proposed measure after the Senate adopted the lower chamber’s version, which the House earlier passed.

The Senate passed and adopted the House version of the bill filed by former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez abolishing the Road Board en toto; therefore, there is no more disagreeing provisions to require a bicameral conference. It could be sent to the President.

However, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. made a motion to rescind the approval of the bill. Nobody objected and the motion was carried at the lower chamber.

READ: Senate, House clash over fate of Road Board

Because of this withdrawal, House Speaker Arroyo has yet to sign the enrolled copy of the measure, so the Senate could not officially transmit it.

“Kasi it emanated from the House, kailangan sila ang magtransmit eh (It emanated from the House so they need to transmit it),” the Senate President explained.

Sotto, however, insisted that the Road Board is “as good as abolished” because both chambers of Congress already approved the bill, and the executive department will no longer release funds for the Road Board.  /ee