Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson raised concerns over two major Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) programs, suggesting they may create opportunities for double appropriations and misuse of funds. The programs under scrutiny are:
- Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG)
- Basic Infrastructure Program (BIP)
During the Senate budget deliberations, Lacson highlighted a potential overlap in funding for projects like the Rehabilitation of the Road in Umingan, Pangasinan (Phases 1–3), which are listed under both SIPAG and BIP. He implied that without the oversight of DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, the funds could have been misappropriated.
“Kung hindi napasok si Sec. Dizon, baka na-i bulsa ito kasi dalawang appropriations. Ganun po ba yun?” Lacson asked.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the budget sponsor for DPWH, acknowledged the possibility: “Mataas yung possibility na ganun po pwede mangyari.”
Lacson questioned the purpose of maintaining separate programs if they only serve to confuse, suggesting a consolidation might be necessary. Gatchalian said the agency is working on unifying these programs into a single framework to prevent misaligned initiatives and improve efficiency.
Lagay Concerns in Bidding
Sen. JV Ejercito raised another issue regarding DPWH’s new costings for contractors. Some sectors reportedly hesitate to participate in bidding due to fears of minimal profit.
“Maraming nagsasabi natatakot na mag bid yung iba because of the new costings, parang wala na raw kikitain,” Ejercito said.
Gatchalian clarified that the problem lies not with the pricing itself, but with the alleged practice of “lagay” or unofficial cuts demanded by certain officials. Legitimate contractors could still earn a reasonable profit of 5–10 percent, but excessive demands—sometimes reaching 20–25 percent—undermine profits and encourage corruption.
Gatchalian referenced past incidents, including allegations involving former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, whose group reportedly sought up to 25 percent in “lagay” from contracts. He stressed that such corrupt practices must be stopped.