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.”
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