THE NEWLY established Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will be funded through the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said, clarifying that allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control projects will not be diverted to the new body.
“Executive Secretary [Lucas P.] Bersamin and I discussed that if their office’s budget can still cover it, they will provide the funding,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman told reporters in Filipino during the Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCC) Day in Malacañang.
“But if not, they will request assistance from us. In that case, we will charge it to the contingent fund for MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses) and capital outlays for their operations,” she added.
The ICI, barely a week-old agency, will probe irregularities in flood control after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered an investigation as typhoons and monsoon rains inundated several parts of the country.
The investigation so far has revealed that some DPWH officials are involved in corruption, also implicating certain lawmakers, including Mr. Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
According to Ms. Pangandaman, the barest minimum the department has computed for the personnel services is about P21 million. She noted they have not yet finalized how much funding the body needs, as the heads are yet to convene.
“As for the MOOE and capital outlays, those have yet to be determined since we still need to wait for the appointment of at least the Executive Director,” she said.
“Bare minimum we computed P21 million pesos. [That is just] personnel services. No amount yet for MOOE and [capital outlays],” she told BusinessWorld via Viber separately.
She clarified that while Mr. Marcos shelved the flood control project budget from DPWH, it will not be allocated to the ICI as the President’s order would be for next year, while the ICI needs funding now.
The Philippine Congress is currently deliberating the spending plan for 2026, including the DPWH, which historically is one of the top-funded agencies.
In a separate briefing, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said the ICI would most likely name the Executive Director this week.
The body also conducted its first meeting on Tuesday, according to the Presidential Communications Office. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
