MANILA – Sen. Panfilo Lacson has called out Oriental Mindoro’s Cong. Arnan Panaligan over alleged irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects in his district, saying the lawmaker cannot wash his hands of initiatives he once claimed as accomplishments.
“First, he showcased the projects, then denied involvement in them,” Lacson said. “I cannot reconcile why he said such projects were funded by his office or were his initiative. But now that there’s a controversy, he denies involvement in it.”
Lacson earlier delivered a privilege speech in the Senate, exposing supposed anomalies in flood control programs nationwide.
Although he did not identify Panaligan directly, the senator presented a screenshot of the congressman’s Facebook post where he highlighted flood control projects as part of his work in Oriental Mindoro.
Panaligan subsequently rejected suggestions that he was behind the questioned infrastructure. He insisted that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was solely responsible for planning and implementing the projects.
“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 funded it. But I just want to clarify that the proponent is no other than the DPWH,” Panaligan said.
According to the lawmaker, the projects were already part of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) drafted by the executive branch before Congress deliberated on the budget.
“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,” he explained.
Panaligan also stressed that while Congress passes the General Appropriations Act, it does not control the release of funds or the execution of public works.
“Now they will say that we financed it, technically they will say that Congress did it because Congress approved the budget… But the actual practice is that the listing, identification, and prioritization of flood control projects come from the DPWH,” he said.
The congressman emphasized that local lawmakers have no part in the detailed implementation of government construction efforts.
“The implementor is no other than the Regional Office and DPWH. The congressman also has no role in creating the program of works… That is the exclusive authority of DPWH,” he explained.
Panaligan also sought to correct public perception that legislators directly handle the financing of projects.
“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,” he added./PN
