Lacson: Congressional districts given P620M to over P15B in infra projects

Published November 19, 2020 02:18 AM By DONA MAGSINO,GMA News

Congressional districts were allocated P620 million to P15 billion each in infrastructure projects in the House of Representatives' version of the P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Thursday.

During the Senate's deliberations of the proposed P659-billion allocation for the Department of Public Works and Highways, Lacson drew attention to the huge infrastructure budget allocations for congressional districts.

"Colleagues, all I can say is, pity yourselves, those of us who may have individual insertions, it will make you look like barangay kagawads compared to our House counterparts. You see, from a high of P15.351 billion to a low of P620 million," Lacson said. 

"In fact, 'yung number 1 to I think 220 districts, mahigit P1 billion. The remaining 100 or so or less than 100, ang lowest diyan P620 million," he added.

The senator said he deemed it best not to flash the names of the concerned district representatives so that the focus would be on the issue instead of personalities.

He said the P68 billion earmarked for '"skeleton" projects

which he was eyeing for realignment was just a drop in the bucket compared to these individual district allocations.

Lacson also flagged a list of 739 line items for multi-purpose buildings with a uniform allocation of P1 million each.

"If a P2 million project would only come up with a skeletal structure, can you imagine [how] a multi-purpose building with P1 million allocation would look?" he asked.

The senator said his sources said the members of the House of Representatives had a hand in the preparation of the infrastructure allocation.

"I'm not blaming the department if it appears this way because practically, mga congressmen po ang may gawa ng mga listahan na ito," he said.

Lacson said he agrees with President Rodrigo Duterte that DPWH Secretary Mark Villar is not corrupt.

The budget of the DPWH was deemed submitted to the plenary but it may still be amended before the second reading and in the bicameral conference meeting. -NB, GMA News

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