Pres. Bongbong Marcos Confident LGU Executives Won’t Be Involved in Ghost Projects
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President introduced a new scheme in the construction of classrooms in the Philippines.
Amid the flood control issue in the Philippines, the Department of Education was left even more disappointed with the construction of only 22 classrooms out of the 1,700 target by the Department of Public Works and Highways. The DPWH became the center of criticisms amid the issue of allegedly ghost and substandard flood control projects in the country.
Left disappointed by the DPWH finishing only 22 classrooms, DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara said the agency may be too engrossed in the flood control projects. According to him, it seemed like the construction of classrooms is no longer a priority.
“Mukhang nawili sila sa flood control sa totoo lang eh. Matamaan na kung sino ang matamaan pero parang hindi na naging priority yung pagtayo ng classrooms,” Angara expressed.
Amid the DPWH having only finished the construction of 22 classrooms, the DepEd Secretary is pushing for the public-private partnerships to boost the speed of the classroom construction in the country. According to him, the goal will allegedly not be met if the department will only rely to one agency.
Angara also recalled that during the time of former DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro, they were able to build 14,000 classrooms because instead of a bidding for a single building only, they conduct bidding for thousands of classrooms. Thus, the classroom construction took place simultaneously. Recently, Pres. Bongbong Marcos unveiled a new scheme.
Based on a report on GMA News, Pres. Bongbong Marcos unveiled a “closer coordination between the national government and the LGUs” for the classroom construction in the Philippines. Under the new scheme, the budget for the classrooms will be handled by the LGUs while the DPWH is tasked to monitor the constructions.
“The new scheme that we have to accelerate the building of schoolrooms, school buildings in and around the Philippines so that we will achieve at least partway ang naging kulang sa ating mga schoolroom, sa ating mga school building,” the President said.
Based on the report, Pres. Bongbong Marcos is confident that the LGU executives will not engage in ghost projects. According to him, if the LGU officials don’t do their work right, they will be subject to the daily scrutiny of their constituents.
”Ako malakas ang loob ko sa mga LGU executives dahil hindi sila puwedeng mag-ghost project. Sisitahin kayong lahat. Hindi kayo puwedeng gawin substandard at pagka ginawa ninyo ‘yun araw-araw ay minumura kayo ng mga constituents ninyo kung hindi tama ang trabaho ninyo,” he said.
Amid the flood control issue in the Philippines, there are calls for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to livestream their hearings. Recently, the ICI broke its silence on the call to livestream its flood control probe.