Lacson bares 'skeleton' infra projects included in 2021 budget

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday revealed the poor status of some local infrastructure projects that had already received funding in previous years but are still included in the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

During the plenary debates on the budget bill, Lacson said there are 5,913 so-called rehashed projects worth P135 billion.

He showed photos of unfinished multi-purpose buildings in various provinces such as La Union, Pangasinan, and Isabela.

Senator Panfilo Lacson shows examples of "skeleton" infra projects which had been given budget allocations in previous years and are still included in the proposed 2021 budget of the DPWH. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/XfyfpgbxXR

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) November 11, 2020

Some only had posts erected and remain unfinished despite being given millions of appropriations in previous years.

"Are we going to allow that this will be funded in the 2021 budget?" Lacson asked his colleagues, sharing that his team conducted ocular inspections in different parts of the country to check some items that were given re-appropriations in the proposed DPWH budget.

"Nakita naman natin na skeleton 'yung after spending or appropriating a few million pesos, ganoon ang itsura. Eh para na tayong nagpapaloko," he added.

He suggested to "just delete" the proposed appropriations worth P68 billion for such skeleton multi-purpose buildings.

Realigning some to the construction of evacuation centers and quarantine facilities would be better so that the priorities will be more responsive to the theme "Reset, Rebound, Recover," he added.

Senate committee on finance chairperson Sonny Angara said he would be open to any proposed amendments of Lacson but would also give chance to the concerned agencies to explain about these "skeleton" projects.—AOL, GMA News