House backs review of New Senate Building construction

Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday backed the review of the construction of the New Senate Building in Taguig, the projected cost of which has risen to about P23 billion.

1-Rider party-list lawmaker Rodge Gutierrez, Ako Bicol party-list legislator Jill Bongalon, Zambales representative Jay Khonghun and La Union lawmaker Paolo Ortega said that the P23 billion is so far from the initial cost of P8.9 billion, and as such, should be subjected to a thorough review as earlier announced by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

“Public infrastructure projects should reflect prudent financial management. We must halt this project until a clear and transparent review can guarantee that the funds are used appropriately and for the benefit of all Filipinos,” Khonghun said.

“It is only prudent to scrutinize projects involving public funds. We owe it to our constituents to ensure that every peso is spent wisely and effectively. The significant cost overrun calls for a reassessment to protect our nation’s fiscal health,” Gutierrez added.

Bongalon, for his part, said “every centavo must be accounted for to prevent misuse of funds.”

Ortega, on the other hand, said the suspension of fund releases for the New Senate building “is a necessary step to ensure the new Senate building project meets the highest standards of efficiency and accountability.”

Also on Wednesday, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said that the construction of the New Senate Building will continue despite cost review.

In a Facebook live, Cayetano, who recommended the review to Escudero, said that the Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the New Senate Building project had already been bade out, allowing the continuous construction of the building.

Phase 3 of the project, where the additional P10 billion was allocated, is what is currently on hold, he added.

According to Cayetano, the P10 billion was not yet bade out.

In the letter that Cayetano sent to Escudero and was shared to the media on Wednesday, the cost of each phase is as follows:

• Phase I for the core and shell: P8.9 billion
• Phase II for the fit-out: P2.5 billion
• Phase III for the works to finish/complete: P10.33 billion

"It is the additional P10 billion that we are reviewing now. And we will get people with expertise to help us here," he said.

The House of Representatives and the Senate were previously at odds with proposals to change the Constitution, mainly because the House proposal to amend the 1987 Charter to remove foreign ownership limit on vital industries does not explicitly state separate voting for the House and the Senate on proposed amendments in a constituent assembly.

Likewise, the two chambers are on the opposite site on the people’s initiative or signature campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution, with House members being supportive and Senators condemning it as a politicians’ initiative.

Senators see the lack of separate voting provision on these proposals to amend the 1987 Charter as a move to dilute or abolish the Senate, given that there are only 24 Senators as against over 300 House members.

In addition, the Senate has replaced then Senate President Miguel Zubiri with Escudero in swift coup d'etat last May 20 or two days before Congress went on sine die break. — with Hana Bordey/BM, GMA Integrated News