'Haggling' delayed submission of proposed DPWH budget for 2021, Lacson suspects

Senator Panfilo Lacson suspected on Friday that the "erroneous" entries under the proposed budget for infrastructure in 2021 was caused by the "haggling" between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and some lawmakers.

"My inside info, my source from DBM (Department of Budget and Management) told us that ang reason for the hasty submission of erroneous appropriations for the 2021 NEP, kasi late nag-submit ang DPWH," Lacson said in an interview on ANC.

"For what reason, I don’t know. We can only suspect that there was a lot of haggling that went on between DPWH and some legislators, kaya nagkahuli-huli... But why in the world, kasi Build, Build, Build doon naka-anchor ang Reset, Rebound, Recover [theme of 2021 budget]. Eh bakit ang DPWH would be late in the submission of their proposed budget?," he added.

Lacson, however, admitted there was no way of validating such suspicion.

He further said the infrastructure budget must be guarded as this could be used to advance political interests in the 2022 elections.

"Nakakatakot dito sa infrastructure projects kasi dito papasok ang possible haggling with Malacanang, if we assume that may sinister effort or move on the part of Malacanang to dip or poke their fingers sa 2022 elections," he said, adding that he still hopes there is no such plan as the country is already facing too many problems.

During a Senate budget hearing on Wednesday, Lacson flagged P469-billion worth of reappropriated and lump sum projects under the proposed budget of the DPWH for 2021. He said these were unconstitutional.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said he will coordinate with DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and submit to the Senate what is necessary, in compliance and accordance with Lacson's observations.

GMA News Online sought DPWH's comment on the matter but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

DPWH gets the second highest appropriation under the proposed 2021 budget at P667.3 billion. The education sector still gets the lion's share with P754.4 billion. -MDM, GMA News