Alyansa bets focus on accountability, infra development in Bicol sortie

PILI, Camarines Sur— Two administration senatorial candidates on Friday vowed to seek accountability over recurring issues in the country’s infrastructure projects in their visit here in Camarines Sur. 

In a press conference, senatorial bet and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said he would look into the infrastructure projects and would compel the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to report to Congress more often should he be elected in the Senate. 

“Nakakasawa na po ‘yang korapsyon. Lahat naman po ‘yan korapsyon. Lahat ng kalsada na ‘yan ay expect na po. If we win, If I win, If these guys will win with me expect next year marami po tayong imbestigasyon. Ang DPWH po, I expect na lagi pong magrereport sa Kongreso,” Tulfo said when the administration senatorial bets were asked about the issues in the infrastructure programs in the Bicol Region and the collapsed bridge in Isabela. 

“It has to stop to now, inuumpisahan na po ng pangulo. Yung sa Cabagan bridge iniimbestigahan na. So, I guess susundan po natin ‘yan next Congress,” he added

Senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said it is about time for “heads to roll” over these controversial infrastructure projects. 

“Rhetorically speaking, dapat may mga gumulong ng ulo kasi alam mo itong hi-way na dinaanan mo, noong nagkakampanya ako noong 2016, ‘yan din ang reklamo. Matatapos ‘yong repair ng isang segment, ire-repair nanaman ‘yong kabilang segment at habang nire-repair itong dating ni-repair, dadaanan ‘yong kabila, paikot-ikot d’yan, walang nakukulong,” Lacson said. 

“Pati ‘yong sa Cabagan-Sta. Maria bridge. ‘di ba? Maliwanag naman na talagang may pagkukulang. It’s about time na merong mga tao na responsable, mga accountable na makulong naman, for a change, kasi ang mga nakukulong ‘yong mga nagnanakaw ng mangga ng kapitbahay pero ‘yong bilyon-bilyon ‘yong binubulsa dahil sa mga maling implementasyon ng proyekto, nakatawa ‘di ba? Nakatawa papuntang bangko every time na magkukubra ng kanilang mga komisyon, ng kanilang kinita. So, I think it’s about time na may mga ulo na gumulong,” he added. 

Meanwhile, other candidates from the Alyansa sa Bagong Pilipinas proposed ideas to address the pressing infrastructure projects in the region. 

Former Interior Secretary and senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos Jr. said the infrastructure projects in the Bicol Region should be “typhoon-proof.” 

“Dapat ibang level of quality dito. Why? Dahil parating binibisita kayo ng bagyo, ‘di ba. ‘Yung calamity ang unang pinapasok ay Bicol. So, dapat ang alod nito is what I would call ‘Typhoon proof,’” Abalos said. 

“Hindi pwedeng paggawa ngayon, after several months na-wash out na ‘yun, baku-bako na. So, dapat talagang reviewhin itong maigi…it should be typhoon proof as far as Bicol is concerned. Otherwise, wala pong mangyayari,” he added. 

This was backed by Tulfo in his speech at the campaign rally, vowing to fix the flood control program in the region. 

Bicol Express

Noting how efficient the Bicol-Manila railway in the past was, majority of the Alyansa bets raised the need to revive “Bicol Express.” Some even floated the idea of replacing it with a bullet train. 

In his speech during the rally, Tulfo vowed to raise the revival of the Bicol Express line with the President.

“Ibubulong po natin sa Pangulo na ibalik ang Bicol Express,” Tulfo said. 

Lacson and reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos mulled to replace the traditional railways with bullet train if Bicol Express would be revived.

“Alam po ninyo ang haba ng Maynila hanggang Naga, Legazpi, Pili— 450 kilometers. Magkapareho lang ng papunta sa amin sa Ilocos Norte. Ganun din sa amin. Kung bakit sa amin nakakauwi ng pito, walong oras. Kayo sa Bicol, nakakaawa ang kalsada po natin— 15 hours, 20 oras, 18 oras. Ayusin po natin para tunay siyang maging ‘Bicol express,’” Marcos said. 

“Mabilis , maganda at matulin ang takbo, hindi ‘yung ganyan. Ang talagang pangarap ng aking ama noon ay magkaroon ng tren. Buhayin sa wakas ang Philippine National Railways. Meron tayo dati andun din ‘yung North Rail, umaabot sa La union mula sa Manila. Umaabot mula sa Manila hanggang sa Legazpi. Anong nangyari sa tren na yan bakit nawala yan? Ibalik natin ang tren. Bullet train na. Laoag-Manila-Legazpi, kaya natin yan magkaisa lang tayo,” she added. 

Lacson cited his observation from a previous visit in Beijing where he said that the old trains of China are given to the Philippines as part of its loan program. 

“Kaya naudlot yung China na loan para sa project sa riles. Luma yung binibigay sa atin. Yung pinaglumaan nila, yun pa rin yung gustong isaksak sa baga natin. So, bullet train na tayo ngayon. Huwag na tayong umasa sa kakalog-kalog na mga railway system,” Lacson said. 

In line with this, reelectionist Senator Francis Tolentino urged the Philippines to consider availing Official Development Assistance for its railway program from other countries like South Korea and Japan instead of China. 

“Ang China rin po ang nangako ng Mindanao railroad, hindi natuloy. Ang China rin po ang nangako nitong Bicol line, hindi natuloy. So siguro po panahon na para makita hindi lamang po ng DOTr kundi ng mga economic managers natin ‘yong mga bansang mas may kapasidad and I am referring to Korea, ang I am referring to Japan. May mga bansa po na siguro makakuha tayo ng mas reasonable rates, mas reasonable assistance to be provided to us,” he said. —LDF, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.