Senate plans 15% cut on DPWH infra funds

The Senate is eyeing a 15% to 20% reduction in infrastructure project budgets under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to curb overpricing.

In an interview over Super Radyo dzBB, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said the move was discussed with Senate finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian. “Across the board, ika-cut namin between 15% to 20% ang pondo ng bawat proyekto (we will cut the funding for each project from 15% to 20%),” Sotto said.

The proposal follows revelations of overpricing by district engineers and officials to allegedly pay “proponents.”

Gatchalian earlier flagged P10.3 billion worth of overpriced farm-to-market road projects from 2023 to 2024 during budget deliberations for the Department of Agriculture.

Sotto also called for an investigation into super health centers of which 300 of these were discovered to be non-operational.

The Senate President said a committee report on anomalous flood control projects may be submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Lacson back?

Sotto also confirmed a meeting with Senate Blue Ribbon Committee acting chair Erwin Tulfo to discuss the probe’s direction. Sotto said the majority bloc may convince Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to return as committee chair after his recent resignation.

“At the very least, 50/50 [Lacson would return],” Sotto said. “Baka mapilitan [kasi] gusto namin [majority] (He might be forced to return because the majority wants it).”

“Bago mag Nov. 10, malinaw na tayo (Before Nov.10 it should be clear),” he added. —RF, GMA Integrated News