P54-B for MRT-3
buy-out most likely to be slashed from DOTC 2015 budget – Chiz
By Office of Senator Chiz
Escudero
October 20, 2014
PASAY CITY – The
Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) plan to buy
out the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) for almost P54 billion is
unprogrammed and is not reflected in the 2015 General Appropriations
Act (GAA), Senator Chiz Escudero said.
Escudero, chairman of the
Senate Committee on Finance, said the P54 billion which the DOTC has
set aside for the takeover of the MRT 3 will be sourced from a loan,
and not from the national treasury.
“That amount which was
authorized by DOF (Department of Finance) Secretary Cesar Purisima to
effect the MRT 3 buyout is actually a loan. Thus, although it is
unprogrammed once the loan has been signed, it will reflect in the GAA
and the DOTC is apparently to push through with the buyout,” Escudero
said.
He, however, said he is most
likely to slash the amount from the GAA or realign it to more
essential services for the general public like the much needed
infrastructure to ease traffic congestion and disaster preparedness
programs.
“While it is true that we
need to improve our mass transport system, I have not been convinced
by the DOTC that a takeover with a very high price tag is what we need
at this time. One, that P54 billion is not enough as MRTH (Metro Rail
Transit Holdings) said the equity value buyout amounts to P112
billion. Where did DOTC get that figure? Who did they talk to?”
Escudero said.
The senator said the amount
DOTC is appropriating as opposed to MRTH’s asking price is worthless
and might just go to waste. “Even DOTC Secretary Abaya said in the
hearings that even after they take over MRT 3, the only upshot is
better terms for the government when it bids out the operation and
maintenance. The DOTC can bid that out now without shelling out P54
billion of taxpayer’s money,” Escudero pointed out.
He is also wary that the
bulk of the takeover appropriation will just be used to pay for the
bonds held by state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines and Development
Bank of the Philippines.
“Granting we pay the bonds
in LBP and DBP, which are technically government anyway, why scrape
Juan dela Cruz’s tight resources? The remaining balance is too
miniscule to really own back MRT 3, why force the issue then?”
The DOF will go on an
executive session with the Senate today to discuss the MRT 3.
Asked if this is a session
to convince senators to give their stamp of approval for the planned
takeover, the senator is skeptic that he will be convinced. “We will
see. And I don’t understand the need for a closed-door session. Why
can it not be discussed in public? The public has the right to know
why that money is needed and how is it going to be spent. That is our
money, everyone’s money anyway.”