No separate item budget for ICI in proposed 2026 budget —Sen. Gatchalian

No separate item budget was allocated for the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) under the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Friday.

Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said the funding for the independent body tasked to investigate irregularities in flood control and infrastructure projects will remain under the Office of the President (OP).

"Ngayon, walang specific item para sa ICI. I believe kinukuha ito sa OP at sapat naman ang pondo ng OP para pondohan sila. Wala silang specific item," Gatchalian said.

(There is currently no specific item for the ICI under the proposed budget. I believe their funding comes from the OP and the OP has enough budget for them.)

"Tuloy lang kung ano ang ginagawa nila this year, itutuloy lang para sa 2026," he added.

(Whatever they are doing this year, they will continue it for 2026.)

The ICI, which was created under Executive Order No. 94 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in September, received a P41 million budget for 2025.

The funding for the commission was sourced from the contingency fund of the OP and was approved in November. However, the ICI only received the budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) this month amid delays in its implementation.

It can be recalled that Rogelio "Babes" Singson, who has tendered his resignation from the ICI, lamented the investigating body's lack of budget and enabling laws that would empower it in the fight against corruption in government.

Meanwhile, the ICI welcomed Marcos Jr.'s call  to prioritize the passage of the bill proposing the creation of an Independent People’s Commission (IPC). —VAL, GMA Integrated News