Lacson: Senate to remove ‘illegal’ DPWH addendums to 2021 budget

Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Saturday that the Senate would remove addendums by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) if these did not match up with lump-sum projects under the 2021 budget.

In a radio interview, Lacson said he already had a list of lump sum items by the DPWH.

"Preventive maintenance, tertiary roads, secondary roads. Kung anu-ano yan. Pinapatingnan ko na ngayon ang addendum, may listahan na rin kami, may nagpadala sa amin. Tatama ba doon sa mga lump sum? Kasi kung hindi nakatama roon hindi addendum yan," he said.

If this was the case, Lacson said the P396 billion lump sum in the DPWH's proposed budget would be realigned by the two houses of Congress.

"'Di nila kami maloloko roon kasi pag sinabi mong ito ang item na naka-lump sum, tutugma ba ang listahan nila? Halimbawa kung ilang libong items yan, lahat ba yan tatama sa nakalista sa lump sum para sabihin nilang addendum o kaya hinimay nila ang lump sum, in-itemize?" he said.

"Tatanggalin namin kasi illegal yan. Hindi tama yan," he added.

Lacson previously flagged the P469-billion worth of reappropriated and lump sum projects by the DPWH, which he said were unconstitutional. — DVM, GMA News