Lacson seeks to realign P20-B building fund to LGU typhoon aid

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said he would move for the realignment of the P68-billion fund intended for the construction of multi-purpose buildings under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 2021 to a fund that would aid the local governments hardest hit by the recent typhoons.

He intends to transfer P20 billion of it to the Allocation to Local Government Units-Local Government Support Fund (ALGU-LGSF) to directly help the provinces battered by Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoons Quinta and Ulysses.

“Since the NEP (National Expenditure Program) was prepared before the onslaught of Typhoons Rolly, Quinta, and Ulysses, wouldn’t it be wise and practical to make adjustments by augmenting the ALGU-LGSF appropriations especially for those areas hardest hit by the calamities mentioned?" he asked during the budget debates in the Senate.

Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sonny Angara welcomed Lacson's proposal.

"Yes, I think we can adjust it given the very serious situation found in some of our LGUs, and given that the existing funds may not be enough," he said.

Further, Lacson underscored that the items under the P68 billion fund are "merely duplications" of programs already covered by a special provision in the ALGU-LGSF.

He added that these multi-purpose building items are also being used as convenient sources of corruption as he had previously pointed out by showing "skeleton" infrastructure projects in some provinces.

It would be more practical to augment the typhoon-hit LGUs' fund for the construction of infrastructure projects through the ALGU-LGSF instead of lodging the P68 billion in the DPWH, a national agency, Lacson said.

Angara expressed openness to discuss the possible amendment to the proposed DPWH budget when Public Works Secretary Mark Villar faces the Senate plenary this week.

"Something like P20B would suffice because the other portion of the P68 billion could still be realigned, as I mentioned last week, for the national broadband program of DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) and other items our colleagues may want to augment," Lacson said. "I am quite sure Secretary Villar will be amenable to realigning, sakit ng ulo niya 'yan." — DVM, GMA News