Poe to push for P27-M fund for road safety programs

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe said on Wednesday she would push for the reinstatement of the P27-million fund needed for road safety programs and equipment during the hearing on the 2020 budget of the Department of Transportation, which takes place on Thursday

There is no appropriation in the proposed 2020 national budget for road safety programs, as pointed out by Transportation Undersecretary Mark Richmund de Leon during a Seate hearing to declare every third week of November as World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims.

“It has to be funded. It has to be a priority since prevention and safety are paramount in the transportation system that we have… I think there’s a way since it’s life we are protecting,” Poe, speaking partly in Filipino, said in an interview.

In the same hearing, families of car crash victims said that many cases arising out of vehicular accidents were dismissed for lack of proof that the driver was drunk.

This, Poe said, underscores the need for funding to procure equipment such as breathalyzers, which are used to test the alcohol level of motorists.

“Testing to see if a driver is drunk is a part of road safety, drivers’ education, and other programs. That’s why they supposedly need a P27-million budget for this. Tomorrow there will be a hearing on the transportation department’s budget. I would want to have these programs reinstated,” Poe said.

Meanwhile, Poe also presided over the committee’s third technical working group (TWG) which seeks to review the government’s master plan and other proposals in a move to address traffic issues.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) reported the project list drafted in 2014  containing priority infrastructures was still being updated and completed.

Poe said the NEDA also reported another master plan outside the Greater Capital Region which is still being drafted and is expected to be completed in December.

/atm