Koko calls out 'dramatic increase' in House budget amid 'Young Guns' comments on NSB

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Thursday told some members of the House of Representatives to check the "dramatic increase" in the chamber's 2024 budget instead of making comments on the review of the new Senate building (NSB).

"I advise the Young Guns in the House of Representatives to first look at the dramatic increase in the budget of the House...as reflected in the President's Budget to the final amount of P27 billion in the General Appropriations Law," Pimentel said in a Viber message to reporters.

"Their time and efforts are better spent in making sure that there is no wastage of public funds in the expenditure of extra funds of the House of Representatives," he added.

According to Pimentel, the original budget of the House of Representatives under the National Expenditure Program as proposed by the President was P16.17 billion.

However, the final budget ballooned to P28.29 billion.

On Wednesday, the group called "Young Guns,'' which consists of 1-Rider party-list lawmaker Rodge Gutierrez, Ako Bicol party-list legislator Jill Bongalon, Zambales Representative Jay Khonghun, and La Union lawmaker Paolo Ortega, backed the review of the NSB as initiated by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Escudero ordered the suspension and the review of the construction after he expressed concerns over the increased budget for the project from P8.9 billion to P23 billion.

“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.

Asked to comment on the increased cost of the construction, Pimentel said they have yet to be briefed about the issue.

"[W]e need to know more about the various 'variation orders.' Why did these happen?  Were the 'architectural and engineering plans' too incompetently done? Has the project monitoring by the DPWH been competently done too? [Etcetera] that's all for now," he said.

Senate committee on accounts chairperson Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said that the construction of the NSB will continue despite the 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 bid 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.

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

In response, the House members accused Pimentel of diverting attention from the Senate building issue.

“One thing is clear: the House of Representatives, with its over 300 members, does not have a P23-billion building project. Senator Pimentel's attempts to divert scrutiny from the Senate's controversial expenditure by highlighting the House's budget increase are unfounded and misleading,” Bongalon, a lawyer, said.

“Public funds must be utilized transparently and judiciously, irrespective of the agency or branch of government,” Bongalon added.

Gutierrez said that ''there is no need to be onion-skinned.''

''As public officials, we must all be open to scrutiny, especially when it concerns the use of taxpayers’ money,” Gutierrez said.

“The public deserves to know why the cost of the New Senate building has escalated so dramatically, and your role as a Senator should include ensuring accountability and transparency, not merely defending controversial projects.''

Ortega said the Senate should stick to explaining the increased cost of the construction of the new Senate building.

"The question remains: why has the NSB's budget ballooned to P23.3 billion, from its original allocation of P8.9 billion? Senator Pimentel's remarks are a distraction from the core issue. It's about the responsible use of public funds,” Ortega added. -with Llanesca Panti/VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News