Senate probe sought听on听slow payment release听for听transport service contracting听听
SENATOR GRACE听Poe-Llamanzares has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on the slow rollout of pandemic response funds intended to help the transport sector.听听听
“It is lamentable that the government simply shrugged its shoulders over its inability to disburse payments to our operators under the service contracting program,” Ms. Poe, chair of the听Senate Committee on Public Services, said听in a press release听on Tuesday.听听听
She cited听the Commission on Audit (CoA)听2020 report showing听that only P3.02 million or 0.05% of the P5.58-billion听budget for the听service contracting听program听under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II) were released to beneficiaries.听听
The contracting program was intended to assist public utility vehicle drivers and operators by hiring them to provide transport to frontline workers.听听
The听proposed Senate probe aims to look into听the听鈥渦tterly dismal rollout of the service contracting program,鈥澨齱hich is听led by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).听听
Chairman Martin B. Delgra III听of LTFRB has previously said听that they have disbursed P1.25 billion or 26.55% of the听total allocation听for payouts听as of听June听this year.听听
Ms. Poe听said听鈥渢he incredibly slow release of funds to pay operators and drivers鈥澨齣s听鈥渦nacceptable.鈥澨鈥斕鼳lyssa Nicole O. Tan听
