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Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Albay 2^nd District Congressman Joey Salceda on Wednesday question the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the absence of any appropriation for active transport and service contracting in the budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Salceda said this is dismaying, especially given that COVID-19 is unlikely to be completely over by next year.

Lawmakers support the service contracting program, which gives weekly payouts to drivers according to the number of trips they completed per week, and allows the operation of ‘Libreng Sakay’ for medical frontliners and essential workers amid the pandemic.

DOTr requested from the DBM a total of P10 billion to fund the Service Contracting Program. However, the proposed fund was not included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2022.

Salceda said these items are also likely to be crucial to the conduct of the May 2022 national and local elections. If there are efforts to allot appropriations for these items, I will support them in the Bicameral Conference Committee, as Vice Chair of the Committee on Appropriations.

He added the lack of allocation follows the disappointing performance of the implementing agencies on the release of last year’s budget on the P5.56 billion allotted to the Land Transport Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), of which some P3.3 billion was yet to be released as of last month.

“I understand some of the issues on implementation. After all, affirmative transport programs are not the specialty of the LTFRB. The lack of a project management office specifically for affirmative transport programs This is why I believe it necessary to have a long-term and multi-modal transport plan that to connect the various economic sectors better,” Salceda stressed.

Salceda said the active transport and service contracting as “affirmative transport” because they encourage affirmative or good behaviors for both COVID-19, our preexisting traffic conditions, pollution, and health.

He cited three ruled must be followed in implementing the program:

– It must be accompanied with a commensurate Personnel Services budget, because we will probably get the same results as last year if we add a full MOOE budget for these programs without personnel augmentation;

– The Office of Transport Cooperatives must play a bigger role in the implementation of these programs. Our Operators and Drivers Associations are probably best organized as cooperatives, similar to the approach being taken by the Department of Agriculture for farmers groups;

– The implementation of these programs must suit realities on the ground. For this reason, we need the help of big data in mapping actual commuter routes and volumes.

Meanwhile, Samar 1st District Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, appealed to his fellow lawmakers to reevaluate proposed Service Contracting budget and for it to be included in 2022 NEP.

“From the Chairman on Committee on Transportation, I would strongly manifest that we, the Committee, will assist the budget and provide Service Contracting the amount of no less than P3 billion for the 2022 budget,” Rep. Sarmiento said.

During the house hearing, lawmakers expressed equal support and positive manifestations during the briefing of the DOTr’s 2022 budget. They underscored the various accomplishments of the DOTr in terms of the implementation of transformational initiatives and the building and rehabilitation of much-needed transport infrastructures all over the country.

“Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa ating matalino, magaling, maasikaso, masipag na Secretary sa magandang mga maitulong niya sa ating distrito,” Ilocos Sur 1st District Rep. and Deputy Speaker Deogracias Victor Savellano said.

“Gusto ko lang ipaalam sa ating lahat na nakikinig dito ngayon na ‘yung Salomague Port po ay maganda ang nagawa ni Secretary Tugade doon – na nakadaong ‘ho ang dalawang malalaking cruise ships na maraming nangangarap na dumaong sa kani-kanilang lugar. Pero sa ginawa ni Secretary doon, hindi na lang dream kung hindi ay nagkatotoo ‘ho,” Cong. Savellano added.

“Alam niyo ‘ho noong panahon ng pandemya, nakikita ko na malaki ang tulong ng DOTr. Isinaalang-alang nila ang personal na kapakanan to make sure na ma-deliver nila at matulungan ang taumbayan. Naalala ko – March 14, [2020] noong first na nag-lockdown. Marami pong mga OFWs na sa airport, seaport at sa lahat ng mga areas na kung saan puwedeng delikado ang buhay nila. Hindi po nanaig ang takot – isang text lang kay Secretary Art, natulungan nila tayo para po sa pagpapadala ng mga health essentials sa Iloilo City,” Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Jam Baronda shared.