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Road-user's tax to fund upgrade of Metro Manila's traffic light system?

TopGear.com.ph Philippine Car News - Road user's tax to fund upgrade of Metro Manila's traffic light system

The proceeds of the Motor Vehicle User's Charge (MVUC), or the road-user's tax, may be used to upgrade Metro Manila’s traffic light system.

Sen. Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, pointed out that the upgrading of the metro's traffic control system falls within the mandate of the Road Board, which oversees the disposal of the MVUC. As such, Drilon said he will push Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Rogelio Singson to allocate a portion of the road-user's tax to upgrade the traffic lights in 453 of Metro Manila's intersections. Drilon also urged for the DPWH to coordinate with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which will handle the upgrading of the system.

"We commit to assist the MMDA to get the MVUC funds," Drilon assured MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino during a Senate hearing on the P1.375 billion budget of the agency.

According to Tolentino, Metro Manila's traffic light system is obsolete compared the modern and computerized system that the cities of Cebu and Davao are using, which can monitor and prioritize heavily congested areas. To have a similar system in Metro Manila, the MMDA reportedly needs around P1.5 billion.

Tolentino added that although only P29 million of the agency's budget has been allocated for the maintenance of traffic lights, the Road Board is "willing to fund" around P400 million to develop a modern traffic response system that may be implemented in several phases.

"Doing it in phases would be more feasible rather than a one-time upgrade," Tolentino added. As for the balance to complete the upgrade, Drilon said he will request the Road Board to shoulder it as well.

Republic Act 8794 which created the MVUC cites that the funds collected under it "shall be earmarked solely and used exclusively (1) for road maintenance and the improvement of road drainage, (2) for the installation of adequate and efficient traffic lights and road safety devices, and (3) for the air pollution control."

Photo from SXC.hu

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  • ChairmanPineapple Oct 12 2011 @ 05:03pm
     
    Two names that is annoying to see, drilon and tolentino, two bumbling idiots! The fat guy insensitive to the toll vat while the other one blinking eye chairman whom wanted to slow things by implementing unreasonable speed limits. Sana if they will upgrade the stoplights lagyan narin nila ng timer at tell those metro aides ay este traffic enforcers not to overwrite the stoplights by telling motorist to stop while the lights are green especially the kotongeros of makati!
       
    • JoHunter Oct 12 2011 @ 07:40pm
       
      My sentiments exactly. Now they're teaming up to get money for use in upgrading traffic lights. What traffic lights? Lalagyan ng traffic lights ang U-turn slots?

      Seriously tho, the names Drilon and Tolentino put together is very hard to believe, much less take seriously. These two remind me of Germans and Italians. Fascist dictators, not cars.
         
      • ChairmanPineapple Oct 12 2011 @ 11:58pm
         
        forgot to mention the castelo guy na nag propose ng mga palpak na bills hehehe winnie the pooh!!! at yun magpakapatid na politiko what was their name? hehe
           
    • jmac1993 Oct 22 2011 @ 02:29am
       
      sa intersection ng Tandang Sora at Commonwealth, may timer na po yung stoplights dun.. 90 seconds ata.. pero may timer na.. gumanda na rin ang flow ng traffic sa area na yun.. :)
         
  • AuiBoy Oct 12 2011 @ 05:44pm
     
    db pwedeng i-upgrade utak ng mga trapo na to, lahat na lang ata dinaan sa batas di na dapat pinag uusapan yan dahil part na ng maintenance nila yan!!!! mga walang silbi hehehe....
       
  • bruce Oct 12 2011 @ 08:06pm
     
    they're collecting payments but not being used for the intended purpose?! i need a refund! baka magkaroon na rin ng toll sa paggamit sa edsa dahil ipapa-upgrade ito sa iba.. asan na kaya napunta mga kinokolekta nila?
       
    • ChairmanPineapple Oct 12 2011 @ 11:57pm
       
      sa pag upgrade ng mga mansion nila at pambili ng luxury cars na may specialized plates pa, dun napupunta ang tax natin. mga hindi sila marunong mahiya, puro kasing kapal ang adobe ang mga mukha nila and sila pa may gana manggisa ng mga taong pinag nanakawan nila ng pera.
         
  • GTi Oct 12 2011 @ 09:13pm
     
    "WILLING TO FUND"??? Ano yan?! Parang ginawa pa nilang pabor yan ah! Para saan ba yang tax na yan? Para dapat lang ba sa bulsa nila at parang malaking pabor lang nila sa taumbayan na lagyan ng bagong traffic light? Dapat "IS GOING TO FUND" o kaya "WILL FUND" yan!
       
  • bruce Oct 12 2011 @ 11:04pm
     
    isn't it a slap in the face of metro manila mayors that the cities of cebu and davao were able to use modern and computerized system? metro manila is where most of the big companies are which means it has huge tax collections and yet they cannot upgrade theirs? WTF!
       
  • iw84n01 Oct 17 2011 @ 01:46pm
     
    sana isipin nyo muna rin yung mga kalsada na basag basag .... yang maynilad na mahilig magbutas ng kalsada dapat hingan din yan, pagkatapos magbasag ng kalsada iiwan na lng....
       
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