Tag: DPWH

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Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel Pushing Ban on Allocables and Leadership Fund

Abolish the system of allocables and the “leadership fund” from the national budget, strengthen transparency in the budget process, and expand the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman to pursue corruption cases.

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday that these are among the emerging recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into anomalous flood control projects.

These are aside from the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings being instrumental in the ongoing preliminary investigations of the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman into key figures involved in the scandal – including former and incumbent lawmakers – as well as the trial happening at the Sandiganbayan, he emphasized.

Lacson pointed out that “almost all the recommendations in the partial committee report have already been overtaken by events as they are already being undertaken and in fact the said preliminary investigations are nearing completion if not completed already.”

“(Kasama sa rekomendasyon ng komite ang) ibawal ang allocables at leadership fund. Ito ang reporma tungkol sa budget. Tapos gawing transparent, of course ginawa namin sa 2026 budget, transparent ang entire budgeting process (Among the committee’s recommendations are to ban allocables and the leadership fund as part of reforms in the budgeting system. And make the crafting of the budget transparent, similar to what we did for the 2026 General Appropriations Act),” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel, Itinutulak ang Pagbabawal sa Allocables at Leadership Fund

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Lacson Probes DPWH Infra Project List ‘Requested’ by CA Panel Member for Bonoan Confirmation

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is investigating a list of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control and other infrastructure projects reportedly “requested” by a Commission on Appointments panel member in exchange for the confirmation of then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan in late 2022.

Lacson said Saturday that the information surfaced while he and his staff continue to inspect suspected anomalous flood control projects in other parts of the country.

“We received information that during a CA hearing for Bonoan’s confirmation as DPWH secretary, the confirmation process was used for such a transaction,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM, citing information from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

In Filipino: Lacson Iniimbestigahan ang Listahan ng DPWH Infra Projects na ‘Hiningi’ ng CA Panel Member para sa Bonoan Confirmation

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Lacson Feels Cost of Fighting Corruption – Again

Standing against corruption often comes at a high personal and political cost, and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is experiencing this once more amid the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the flood control scandal.

Lacson said his chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which is looking into the issue, has cost him friends and earned him new enemies, like in 2003 when he pushed for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

But he maintained he will continue to fulfill his duty and follow the evidence, regardless of who gets hurt.

“Déjà vu. When I took the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I knew I could lose some friends and create new enemies. I had exactly the same feeling when I delivered my ‘Living Without Pork’ privilege speech in March 2003,” he said on X Saturday.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ramdam Muli ang Kapalit ng Pagsusulong ng Laban sa Katiwalian

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Lacson: President’s Orders to Pay Performing Contractors, Monitor Projects to Help Avert Infra Crisis

The orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to promptly pay performing contractors and to regularly monitor projects will help avert a looming infrastructure crisis, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said these should help address the risk posed by the reluctance if not refusal of many contractors to participate in biddings for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.

“Spot on. Amidst reluctance, even refusal of many contractors to participate in public biddings for the DPWH infrastructure projects, the President’s order to facilitate the payment of outstanding obligations to contractors who delivered on their contracted government projects will help prevent a looming infrastructure crisis brought about by the ongoing reforms in the DPWH in the proper utilization of the national budget,” he said of the President’s order to promptly pay “good” contractors.

In Filipino: Lacson: Utos ng Pangulo na Bayaran ang Matinong Kontratista at Bantayan ang mga Proyekto, Makakatulong na Maiwasan ang Krisis sa Imprastraktura

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Lacson to DPWH: Prepare to Deal with ‘Unwilling’ Contractors

Amid the reforms put in place for this year’s budget, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) must prepare to deal with contractors who are not willing to participate in the bidding of projects due to lower costs of construction materials, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said this is especially true for contractors used to huge profits because of their early advances to some legislators and DPWH and other officials, after the National Expenditure Program (NEP) was finalized.

“The DPWH should anticipate how to deal with contractors ‘unwilling’ to participate in the bidding of projects due to reduced cost of construction materials. Their early advances to legislators after the NEP was finalized will not help obviate a looming infrastructure crisis,” he said on his X account.

In Filipino: Lacson sa DPWH: Humanda sa Mga ‘Magmamatigas’ na Kontratista

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