MANILA, Philippines – Itinanggi ni Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Arnan Panaligan ang pagkakasangkot sa isang nasirang flood control project na binandera ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, at sinabing ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang nagmungkahi at nagpatupad nito.
Sinabi ni Panaligan, sa isang panayam sa kanyang tanggapan sa Batasang Pambansa nitong Miyerkules, na ang mga flood control projects sa kanyang mga distrito ay bahagi na ng National Expenditures Program (NEP) nang mapunta ito sa House of Representatives.
“Well, of course, it seems that the summary of his allegations is that we are proponents of the damaged flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro, particularly at the town of Naujan, that we are the proponents, that we funded it. But I just want to clarify that the proponent is no other than the DPWH,” ani Panaligan.
“These projects are already included in the [NEP] which is received by Congress, coming from the executive department […] for Congress to tackle. And it is stated in the NEP, the flood control projects for the towns of Naujan, Baco, and other areas are itemized, so we did not propose that,” dagdag niya.
Ayon kay Panaligan, bagama’t totoo na ang Kongreso ang nagtatakda ng appropriations para sa mga proyekto, hindi ito nangangahulugan na ang mga mambabatas ay sangkot sa disbursement ng pondo at sa pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto sa ilalim ng pambansang pamahalaan, o sa ganitong sitwasyon, ang DPWH.
“Now they will say that we financed it, technically they will say that Congress did it because Congress approved the budget which became the General Appropriations Act which was signed by the President, that’s why it seems Congress financed it,” aniya.
“But the reality is that the actual practice is that the listing, identification, and prioritization of flood control projects come from the DPWH and these are already specified at the NEP when it arrives at Congress. I did not ask that we list these projects, I have no role in seeking these projects.”
Sinabi ni Panaligan na ang pambansa at rehiyonal na tanggapan ng DPWH ang mga nagpapatupad ng proyekto, at idinagdag na ang mga kontratista para sa proyekto ay hindi nanggaling sa Oriental Mindoro.
“The implementor is no other than the Regional Office and DPWH. The congressman also has no role in creating the program of works, Congress has no capacity to do that. That is the exclusive authority of DPWH, creating the design, the plan, holding the bidding, awarding the contract, and payment,” aniya.
“And all the contractors there are regional or national of origin, not one is from Mindoro,” dagdag pa niya. “Many think that because Congress approves the budget, Congress is the one doing the financing. In theory that’s true, but in reality the items like flood control projects are specified at the NEP and cannot be changed.”
Ang reaksyon ni Panaligan ay matapos magbigay ng privilege speech si Lacson, kung saan ipinakita niya kung paano niya natunton at ng kanyang team ang mga maanomalyang flood control projects. Bagama’t hindi niya pinangalanan si Panaligan, ipinakita sa presentasyon ni Lacson ang isang post mula sa Facebook account ni Panaligan, na kinabibilangan ng accomplishment report sa mga flood control projects, mula Hunyo 30, 2022 hanggang Disyembre 31, 2023.
“He openly lists projects — hold your breath — funded by his office. I repeat, funded by his office, including flood control and river protection initiatives,” ani Lacson.
“This project is so important that it can turn stones and get funding approval under the unprogrammed appropriations of the 2024 national budget,” dagdag niya.
Ang isyu sa mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura, lalo na sa flood control, ay umusbong matapos ang pagkondena ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa kanyang ikaapat na State of the Nation Address sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno at mga kontratista na umano’y kumita ng mga kickback. RNT/MND
