Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno has urged the government to redirect hundreds of millions of pesos recovered from the flood control scandal into immediate crisis assistance, particularly for the transport sector.
Diokno said the ₱611 million already surrendered by former officials and contractors linked to anomalous flood control projects should not remain idle while public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers struggle with soaring fuel costs.
“May ₱611 million nang naibalik mula sa maanomalyang flood control funds. Bakit hindi ito gamitin para sa agarang crisis response? Sa gitna ng taas-presyo, isa sa puwedeng pondohan dito ang service contracting para sa pampublikong transportasyon,” Diokno said.
The funds include ₱290 million returned by former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, ₱110 million from former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, and additional amounts from other parties involved in the scandal.
Diokno stressed that the money belongs to the people and should be redirected to them, especially amid the oil price surge triggered by conflict in the Middle East.
“Sa ganitong sistema, nabibigyan ng suporta ang mga jeepney driver base sa serbisyong ibinibigay nila, habang natitiyak din ang mas maayos at tuloy-tuloy na biyahe para sa mga pasahero,” he explained.
He added:
“Kung pera rin lang ng taumbayan ang naibalik, dapat ibalik din ito sa taumbayan sa anyo ng serbisyong mararamdaman nila araw-araw.”