ANGELES CITY – First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin yesterday stressed the need to impose taxes on vehicle owners to ensure the maintenance of roads and the creation of new ones.
Lazatin recently filed House Bill 4537, also known as “an Act imposing a motor vehicle user’s charge on owners of all types of motor vehicles.”
“Indeed, the disposition of monies collected from the implementation of this Act had funded noteworthy projects that are geared towards the maintenance of roads and improvement of drainage, installation of adequate and efficient traffic lights. These projects definitely benefit road users and there is a need to collect taxes from them,” said Lazatin.
In his bill, Lazatin also wanted to ensure that anti-pollution devices will be installed.
“We have to simultaneously take care of the roads and environment,” said the two-term solon. He also said the funds will be used to establish road safety devices.
Lazatin said that 50 percent of the total tax collected will be handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). It will be called Special Road Support Fund.
The DPWH will use 70 percent of its fund for concreting, expansion, maintenance and improvement of drainage at national roads.
The Department of Transportation and Communications, on the other hand, will use the remaining 30 percent of the total taxes collected under Lazatin’s bill. It will be used to establish anti-pollution and safety devices.
Lazatin said the President will create a Road Board to implement the prudent and efficient management and utilization of the special funds. It will have seven members from various government agencies and transport and motorist groups.
