Sen. Grace Poe said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) must explain how it utilized the P9.5 billion Bayanihan 2 funds to alleviate the situation of pandemic-hit transport workers amid reports of huge underspending.
“Dahil sa lockdown, nawalan ng trabaho ang ating mga driver. Maraming healthcare workers ang hindi makapunta sa trabaho dahil walang transportasyon. Tapos nandiyan na ‘yung pera, bakit hindi natin binibigyan ng trabaho ang mga driver at swelduhan sila?” Poe said.
“Hindi ba tayo naaawa sa mga driver na namamalimos? Iyong umaasa sa bigay o nakapila sa mga community pantry para may makain ang pamilya nila? May pera naman pala, bakit hindi gamitin para makaahon man lang sila?” she added.
After inquiring from the Department of Budget and Management during Thursday’s Senate briefing, Poe learned that the entire P9.5 billion fund from Bayanihan 2 law for various programs of the DOTr has been fully released.
Of the amount, P5.58 billion was allotted to provide temporary livelihood to displaced drivers and operators through service contracting; P2.604 billion intended to assist the critically-impacted business in the transport industry; and P1.316 billion allocated to develop sidewalks and protected bicycle lanes, procurement of bicycles and related safety equipment.
In a news release in August, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, one of the agencies under the DOTr, said that P1.5 billion has been released to beneficiary drivers nationwide and for the procurement of the Systems Manager, responsible in the development and management of all project systems.
Poe said she will also seek an explanation from the DOTr on reports that of the P1.5 billion, only P653 million made it to the hands of the beneficiary drivers.
The senator said the agency should be taken to task for the unspent funds when it presents its proposed 2022 budget.
“Displaced from their source of income because of the lockdowns, our drivers and other transport workers run the risk of becoming victims twice as government agencies appear incapable of using the billions of assistance funds to help them,” she said.
“Imbes na gastusin ang pondo para makabalik na sa kalsada ang ating mga driver, pinapatulog lang ang pera at walang serbisyong naibibigay sa panahon ng kagipitan,” Poe said.
