Tag: DZBB

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Lacson: Ombudsman On Track in Taguig Reclamation and Flood Control Projects Investigation

The Office of the Ombudsman has issued subpoenas to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other government agencies for records related to illegal reclamation projects in the Taguig portion of Laguna Lake, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the Ombudsman’s fact-finding investigation is continuing, with his office providing additional documents and updates, while the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) has also submitted drone images of the reclamation sites.

“I believe nagpadala na ng subpoena ang Office of the Ombudsman sa DPWH duces tecum, kinukuha lahat na records sa Taguig. At ang PRA nagpadala na rin ng kanilang drone shots. Walong reclamation sites (I believe the Office of the Ombudsman has sent subpoena duces tecum to the DPWH for the records in the Taguig reclamation projects. The PRA has also sent its drone shots. There are eight reclamation sites),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Ombudsman On Track sa Taguig Reclamation at Flood Control Projects Investigation

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Lacson: Civil Engineers’ Forensic Work Can Help Pinpoint Responsibility for Defective Infra Projects

Civil engineers and their forensic expertise can play a major role in establishing accountability not only for flood control projects but for other infrastructure such as roads and bridges, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson called on civil engineers’ associations to organize inspection teams that can examine roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by recent floods, and determine through forensic analysis whether the damage was due to structural design or implementation.

“Manawagan tayo sa association ng civil engineers, dapat siguro sila kumilos na mag-inspection. O kung may gumuho, magpapunta sila ng member doon kung may association sila, i-forensic nila ano kakulangan base sa kanilang kaalaman. Kung nagkulang sa structural design o implementation dapat habulin ang contractor (We can call on associations of civil engineers to help in the inspection of infrastructure, including those damaged by recent floods. They can use forensics to determine if the damage stemmed from faulty structural design or implementation),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Forensic na Pagsusuri ng mga Civil Engineer, Makakatulong sa Pagtukoy sa Pananagutan sa mga Palpak na Infra Project

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Lacson: Flood Control Master Plan Must Survive Changes in Administration

Any flood control master plan being crafted must not only be technically comprehensive but also be designed to span multiple administrations, ensuring continuity despite changes in government, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed on Wednesday.

Lacson made the call after noting that the master plans of previous administrations were often discarded by the successors, leaving ordinary Filipinos to continue suffering from the effects of flooding.

“Dapat may continuity, multi-administration. Dapat nagko-cross ng administrations ang plano kung ito’y maayos. Pwede siguro mag modify, mag-adapt sa bagong sitwasyon sa pagbabago ng panahon, pero nandiyan ang basic master plan kung paano tutugunan ang problema ng pagbaha (There should be continuity and the master plan should be multi-administration in scope. It must be designed to cross administrations. Minor modifications can be made over time to adapt to new situations, but the core of the basic plan must remain),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Flood Control Master Plan, Dapat May ‘Continuity’ at ‘Multi-Administration’

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Lacson, Staff Begin Scrutiny of Proposed 2027 Budget Amid Senate’s Tight Schedule

Despite the Senate’s tight schedule due to the ongoing impeachment trial, regular plenary sessions and expected committee hearings on matters referred to his committees, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson and his staff have begun scrutinizing the proposed P7.2-trillion budget for 2027.

Lacson said that, as in past years, he and his staff would closely examine the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to ensure that no traces of “pork,” including questionable, useless and wasteful items, would make it to the proposed budget.

“Sa ngayon, sinisimulan na namin ng staff na i-scrutinize ang NEP kasi na-transmit na ito. Pinasisimulan namin kalkalin o i-scrutinize ang NEP para sa 2027 budget (As of now, my staff and I have started scrutinizing the NEP after it was transmitted to both houses of Congress. We have started poring through the NEP in preparation for deliberations on the proposed budget for 2027),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson, Staff Sinimulan ang Pagsusuri sa Panukalang 2027 Budget sa Kabila ng Masikip na Iskedyul ng Senado

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Lacson: COA Has Authority to Inspect Vaults Containing Records on Persons Behind Aliases

The Commission on Audit (COA) has the authority to inspect the vaults containing classified records and supporting documents related to confidential and intelligence operations when circumstances so demand, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson cited COA’s Joint Memorandum Circular 2015-01, which provides that classified details and supporting documents of transactions kept in an agency’s vault may be inspected by the COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Unit (ICFAU) “if circumstances so demand.”

He cited the provision during his questioning of state auditor Xylene del Campo on whether the presence of numerous aliases in confidential and intelligence fund transactions could have warranted an inspection of the vault.

“Kung maraming aliases na nagdududa kayo, di ba natural lang, logically iisipin nyo na ma-inspection nga ang vault kung totoong tao ang nasa likod ng aliases (If you encounter many aliases and you harbor doubts, isn’t it natural and logical to inspect the vault to see if real people are behind the aliases)?” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson: COA, May Awtoridad na Siyasatin ang mga Vault na Naglalaman ng mga Record ng mga Taong Nasa Likod ng mga Alias

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