With the number of anomalous infrastructure projects linked to Discaya-owned firms continuing to pile up, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday called for a whole-of-government approach, including reinforcing the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) with adequate personnel and logistical resources, to address the deepening mess.
Lacson cited the uncertainty felt by residents of Provident Village in Marikina City over seeming defects in the Marikina dike, whose construction is being handled by Discaya-owned firms.
“At the rate the number of substandard, uncompleted and even ghost infrastructure projects being attributed to the Discaya-owned firms keeps piling up, the ICI may not be able to cope with the complexity and enormity of the problem at hand,” Lacson said.
“Hence, the national government, including Congress must reinforce the Commission with adequate personnel and logistical resources, even additional legal power and authority by way of legislation so they can accomplish their assigned tasks,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Pagpalakas sa ICI, Whole-of-Government Approach Kailangan vs Lumalalang Katiwalian sa Infra Projects
Lacson cited an investigative report on Inquirer.net where the Marikina dike cracked barely a year into its construction, prompting repairs and raising concern among residents.
On Monday, the ICI said that of the 29,800 flood control projects built between 2016 and 2024 that it is inspecting, 421 were initially found to be ghost projects – including 261 in Luzon, 109 in Visayas, and 51 in Mindanao.
ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said the ICI aims to refer 15 to 20 cases to the Ombudsman in one month’s time.
Lacson – whose privilege speeches last August and September bared the extent of corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects – reiterated that a whole-of-government approach is needed now if the government is serious in ensuring a “logical conclusion” to the mess, with the prosecution and conviction of those involved.
“It goes without saying, if we really intend to prosecute, convict and recover their loot including their cohorts in Congress and the Department of Public Works and Highways and other implementing agencies similarly responsible for these unprecedented misuse and abuse of public funds, a whole-of-government approach is extremely necessary, not later, but now,” he said.
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Lacson: Pagpalakas sa ICI, Whole-of-Government Approach Kailangan vs Lumalalang Katiwalian sa Infra Projects
Dahil sa patuloy na pagdami ng mga kwestyonableng proyektong pang-imprastraktura na inuugnay sa mga kompanyang pag-aari ng Discaya, nanawagan si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes ng isang whole-of-government approach, kabilang ang pagpapalakas sa Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) sa pamamagitan ng sapat na tauhan at mga kinakailangang kagamitan upang matugunan ang lumalalang problema.
Ipinunto ni Lacson ang pangamba ng mga residente ng Provident Village sa Marikina City kaugnay ng umano’y mga depekto sa Marikina Dike, na kasalukuyang ipinapatayo ng mga kompanyang pag-aari ng Discaya.
“At the rate the number of substandard, uncompleted and even ghost infrastructure projects being attributed to the Discaya-owned firms keeps piling up, the ICI may not be able to cope with the complexity and enormity of the problem at hand,” ani Lacson.
“Hence, the national government, including Congress must reinforce the Commission with adequate personnel and logistical resources, even additional legal power and authority by way of legislation so they can accomplish their assigned tasks,” dagdag niya.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang ulat na inilathala ng Inquirer.net na nagsasabing nagkaroon ng mga bitak ang Marikina Dike halos isang taon pa lamang matapos simulan ang konstruksiyon nito, dahilan upang isailalim ito sa pagkukumpuni at magdulot ng pangamba sa mga residente.
Ayon sa ICI, sa 29,800 flood control projects na itinayo mula 2016 hanggang 2024 na kasalukuyan nitong iniinspeksyon, 421 ang natukoy na ghost projects — 261 sa Luzon, 109 sa Visayas, at 51 sa Mindanao.
Ani ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka, target ng Komisyon na magsumite ng 15 hanggang 20 kaso sa Office of the Ombudsman sa loob ng isang buwan.
Muling nanindigan si Lacson — na noong Agosto at Setyembre ay naghayag sa kanyang privilege speeches ng lawak ng katiwalian sa likod ng mga palpak at guniguning flood control projects — na kinakailangan ang agarang whole-of-government approach kung seryoso ang pamahalaan na ituloy ang “logical conclusion” ng imbestigasyon, kabilang ang pagsasakdal at pagkakakulong ng mga sangkot.
“It goes without saying, if we really intend to prosecute, convict and recover their loot including their cohorts in Congress and the Department of Public Works and Highways and other implementing agencies similarly responsible for these unprecedented misuse and abuse of public funds, a whole-of-government approach is extremely necessary, not later, but now,” diin ni Lacson.
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