MANILA, Philippines – Nagpapatupad na si Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Sen. JV Ejercito ng mahigpit na line-by-line review ng 6,271 newly introduced infrastructure projects sa proposed 2027 national budget.
Ibinabala niya na aalisin sa pondo ang mga proposal na kulang sa documentation at patunay ng kahandaan.
Kasalukuyang nagsasagawa ng audit ang opisina ni Ejercito sa 6,271 infrastructure items na inilagay sa House-transmitted General Appropriations Bill (HGAB) upang beripikahin ang kanilang pagsunod sa mahigpit na vetting standards.
“We are going line by line through every entry, every project. It is really difficult because you have to inspect and scrutinize each one,” sinabi ni Ejercito sa panayam sa radyo.
Para makapasa sa funding, dapat magpasa ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ng kumpletong documentary requirements para sa bawat proposed project.
Kabilang dito ang Program of Works, Certificate of Implementability, project justification, Regional Development Council (RDC) approval, at geotagged photographs na may coordinates.
“We will no longer allow projects that have no Program of Works, no Certificate of Implementability, no Regional Development Council approval, and no geotagging, especially for infrastructure projects,” sinabi ni Ejercito.
Kamakailan ay nakipagkita si Ejercito kay DPWH Secretary Giovanni Lopez at dating Secretary Vince Dizon para isulong ang pag-aalis ng unvetted projects.
Ang DPWH ay binigyan ng hanggang Nobyembre 3 para magpasa ng kaukulang dokumento para sa newly introduced HGAB items, at ang non-compliant projects ay aalisin sa 2027 budget ng ahensya bago pa ang Senate plenary debates.
Idinagdag pa ng senador na ang Mataas na Kapulungan ay pinananatili ang transparency at accountability reforms dahil na rin sa nagdaang iskandalo sa flood control projects.
Isinama ang civil society organizations, budget watchdogs, at mga miyembro ng academe sa budget review process para punahin ang mga kwestyonableng entries.
“We’ve been very open about it. We didn’t just invite them as observers. If they see red flags and other issues, they give us their observations, and we bring these up to question the agencies,” anang senador.
“My appeal, when it comes to legacy projects—the nation-building flagship projects like railways, highways, and bridges—is that we hopefully do not touch their funding. In the long run, I believe these are what will bring in investments, bring in business, and provide real jobs,” dagdag ni Ejercito.
“We cannot rely on government assistance our whole lives. We need to work toward creating jobs here at home by investing in infrastructure and investing in our industries.” RNT/JGC
