Tag: Bagong Senado

At the New Senate Building’s First Concrete Pouring

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Sen. Lacson joined Senate President Tito Sotto and Senators Nancy Binay and Bato dela Rosa at the first concrete pouring for the new Senate building. A day earlier, Sen. Lacson made a manifestation on the progress of the Senate’s effort to build its new home.

Manifestation on the New Senate Building’s First Concrete Pouring Ceremony

Mr. President, this will be a very short manifestation on the progress of the Senate’s collective effort to build our new home, envisioned to be a national landmark — an iconic, green, functional, and secure Bagong Senado.

Since the Senate embarked on the new Senate building project in November of 2017, through PS Resolution No. 293, authored by our distinguished colleague the Hon. Sherwin Gatchalian, we have completed significant milestones. Starting with the conduct of our conceptual design competition, we have already concluded the procurement phase through a design-and-build package with the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Likewise, Mr President, we already secured the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), Tree Cutting and Balling Permit, Locational Clearance, CAAP Height Clearance, Fencing and Excavation Permits, and most importantly, the Building Permit. Suffice to say, Mr President, we do not have any more pending bureaucratic requirements that may delay our work.

Continue reading “Manifestation on the New Senate Building’s First Concrete Pouring Ceremony”

Groundbreaking for New Senate Building

Sen. Lacson (5th from right) joins colleagues at the groundbreaking for the new Senate building in Taguig City on Monday, March 18, 2019.

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#PingSays: House ‘blinks’ on budget row | March 18, 2019

In an interview at the sidelines of the groundbreaking of the new Senate building, Sen. Lacson discloses the House has agreed to recall its version of the 2019 budget with post-ratification tweaks. Other topics in the interview included:
* Rep Andaya accusation that Senate removed P17B from the DPWH RROW budget
* timeline for the New Senate building

Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “#PingSays: House ‘blinks’ on budget row | March 18, 2019”

Update on the Senate’s Relocation | Feb. 4, 2019

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, a year ago, we embarked on a journey to realize a decades-old dream of having our own Senate Building. We sealed the deal when this august chamber approved the transfer of the Senate to the Navy Village, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

I stand here today not only with a renewed confidence in that dream, but also with a clearer picture of it, complete, quite literally, with detailed plans.

Continue reading “Update on the Senate’s Relocation | Feb. 4, 2019”

#PingSays: On delays in the 2019 budget, Alsa Masa, visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping | Nov. 19, 2018

In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– delays in the passage of the national budget for 2019
– reported plan to set up Alsa Masa-style network vs insurgency
– visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping

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Quotes from the interview…

Continue reading “#PingSays: On delays in the 2019 budget, Alsa Masa, visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping | Nov. 19, 2018”

Speech at the Senate’s Flag-Raising Ceremony

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On my way here this morning, I kept thinking: What if the Senate, let’s say the senators, didn’t have you? No secretariat, no staff, no employee, no rank-and-file, just us 24 senators? You know what, I stopped thinking, because it is simply unthinkable.  Continue reading “Speech at the Senate’s Flag-Raising Ceremony”

Bagong bahay, dignidad ng Senado [Journal]

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From Journal Online: Mas praktikal ang magpagawa (ang mga senador) ng panibago nilang gusali, kaysa ipa-renovate pa ang kasalukuyang Senate building na aabutin din ng bilyong piso.  Continue reading “Bagong bahay, dignidad ng Senado [Journal]”

Interview on DZBB | June 6, 2018

In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Bagong Senado
– need for a ‘designated survivor’

Quotes from the interview…  Continue reading “Interview on DZBB | June 6, 2018”

Facts vs ‘Basta!’

I based my figure (PHP4.58 billion project cost as submitted by AECOM) on facts; Mr. Tiglao based his on opinion, and said “Basta” with an exclamation point. Pray tell me if it’s worth arguing with him.

For the longest time, the Senate has been renting the use of its building from the Government Service Insurance System, and its parking lot from the Social Security System. For nearly 20 years, it has been paying rental fees worth P127 million per year or P2.24 billion.

Thus, the cost of our lease payments have become enough to construct a permanent, iconic home for the Senate.

More importantly, this project is not for me or any member of the present Senate in the 17th Congress, but for the future generations of legislators and the Filipino people, just like the other iconic landmarks built by our forefathers that continue to symbolize our culture.

*****

 

On the allegations made by Bobi Tiglao

With all due respect to Mr. Bobi Tiglao, he got his info wrong. One major consideration why AECOM won over Henning Larsen, their nearest competitor, and the three other finalists is their project cost which is the lowest at P4.58 billion (if I remember correctly).

Anyway, the P127-million-per-year rental that the Senate is paying GSIS for a subpar legislative building is our main reason for finding a need to look for a new and permanent home.

Having said that, several attempts were made to find a permanent home for the Senate in the past 18 years. It’s only now, after my colleagues tasked me in an adopted resolution as Accounts Committee Chair to make it happen.

I am one who makes sure to accomplish a task assigned to me. That has always been my training and I will not back down unless my colleagues tell me in another resolution to stop pursuing the same.

*****

Read: Senate Resolution 748, Confirming the Winner of the Global Conceptual Design Competition for the new Senate Building

“Finding a home that the Senate of the Philippines can call its own has long been a standing dream of this institution, and plans of relocating and constructing a permanent Senate building has been proposed and considered as far back as the year 2000 during the Senate Presidency of Senator Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel Jr.”

Bagong Senado: Confirmation of the Global Conceptual Design Winner

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Sen. Lacson’s Speech on the Global Conceptual Design Winner for the Senate’s New Home

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, good afternoon. When we formally started the talks on the relocation of the Senate building, many have had their doubts if we can really translate this vision into reality.

Related:
Sponsorship Speech on the Senate’s Relocation
At a Glance: The Process of the Senate’s Relocation

Continue reading “Bagong Senado: Confirmation of the Global Conceptual Design Winner”

Update on the Senate’s Relocation | May 21, 2018

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, as the chairman of your Committee on Accounts, I have the honor and privilege to give you an account of our progress on the construction and relocation of the new home for the Philippine Senate, as articulated in Senate Resolution No. 293 filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and adopted by this august chamber on November 21, 2017.

Related:
Sponsorship Speech on the Senate’s Relocation
At a Glance: The Process of the Senate’s Relocation
Update on the Senate’s Relocation as of March 20, 2018

Continue reading “Update on the Senate’s Relocation | May 21, 2018”

Kapihan sa Senado forum | May 3, 2018

At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– Ombudsman’s resolution on P6.4B shabu shipment
– PDEA’s releasing of narco list
– Assessment of the government’s anti-drug war
– Charter change and shift to federalism
– CJ Sereno’s impeachment
– PH-Kuwait ties
– Blue Ribbon committee issues
– Senate transfer
– Senate leadership change

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Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Kapihan sa Senado forum | May 3, 2018”

Senate to move to Fort Bonifacio in Taguig by 2021 — Lacson [Manila Bulletin]

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From the Manila Bulletin: Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Senate may move to its new home in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City by January 2021.

Related:
Updating colleagues on the Senate relocation
At a Glance: The process of the Senate’s relocation
Sponsorship speech on the Senate’s relocation

Continue reading “Senate to move to Fort Bonifacio in Taguig by 2021 — Lacson [Manila Bulletin]”

#PingSays: On fate of DOJ Sec. Aguirre, Senate relocation, peace efforts with CPP-NPA-NDF | April 4, 2018

In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– Senate relocation
– fate of DOJ Sec. Aguirre
– SC order on deaths related to anti-drug war
– peace efforts with CPP-NPA-NDF

Quotes from the interview…  Continue reading “#PingSays: On fate of DOJ Sec. Aguirre, Senate relocation, peace efforts with CPP-NPA-NDF | April 4, 2018”

Update on the Senate’s Relocation | March 20, 2018

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Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I have the distinct honor and privilege to render a progress report on the relocation of the new Senate building.

Related:
Sponsorship speech on the Senate’s relocation
At a Glance: The process of the Senate’s relocation

Continue reading “Update on the Senate’s Relocation | March 20, 2018”

#PingSays: To unburden taxpayers: Sen. Lacson pushes removing exemptions from VAT | Nov. 22, 2017

Sen. Lacson pushes for lowering the VAT rate to 10% and for removing many of the 143 exemptions to VAT.

Quotes from the interview…  Continue reading “#PingSays: To unburden taxpayers: Sen. Lacson pushes removing exemptions from VAT | Nov. 22, 2017”

Sponsorship Speech: Relocation of the Senate of the Philippines

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Mr. President, distinguished colleagues in this Upper Chamber of the 17th Congress, I have the distinct honor and privilege to report on the Senate floor PS Resolution 293 entitled “RESOLUTION CREATING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TASKED TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SENATE BUILDING AND RELOCATION OF THE SENATE THERETO,” filed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

Related: At a Glance: The process of the Senate’s relocation

Continue reading “Sponsorship Speech: Relocation of the Senate of the Philippines”

At the Hearing on the Senate’s Relocation

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With Senators Win Gatchalian and Migz Zubiri

Kapihan sa Senado forum | June 8, 2017

At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– the Marawi crisis
– the relocation of the Senate
– no plan to investigate incident at Resorts World Manila
– bill to remove conflict of interest at PAGCOR
– case vs Marvin Marcos and co. over Mayor Espinosa killing
– National ID system

Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Kapihan sa Senado forum | June 8, 2017”

#PingSays: On the Senate’s relocation and the 2nd anniversary of the Mamasapano incident | Jan. 25, 2017

In an ambush interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– the plan to relocate the Senate
– the Mamasapano incident’s 2nd anniversary


Quotes from the interview: 
Continue reading “#PingSays: On the Senate’s relocation and the 2nd anniversary of the Mamasapano incident | Jan. 25, 2017”