Senate President Win Gatchalian flagged delays in the implementation of big-ticket transport projects and urged the Department of Transportation to weed out non-essential foreign-funded projects and prevent the government from wasting public funds on interest and penalties.
According to Gatchalian, the DOTr should conduct a comprehensive audit of its infrastructure and technical support projects and scrap unused official development assistance (ODA) loans that burden taxpayers with commitment fees, which lenders commonly charge to keep a credit line open for borrowers.
“Scrap unused official development assistance loans that burden taxpayers with commitment fees.”
Such delayed projects include the Cebu Bus Rapid Transport Project, Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, Edsa Greenways Project A, and the Facility for Accelerating Studies for Infrastructure.
“Kung hindi na kailangan ng ODA project huwag na tayong umutang dahil ikakarga na naman ‘yan sa mga bayarin natin. I suggest mag-audit tayo ng projects,” the veteran legislator said at a Senate hearing on the proposed budget for DOTr and its attached agencies.
Following delays in the implementation of these projects, the government paid approximately P139 million in commitment fees last year, the seasoned lawmaker disclosed.
The senator emphasized that every peso saved from commitment fees and unnecessary borrowing can be redirected toward urgent transport programs that directly benefit Filipino commuters.
