Senator Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Binay on Monday, June 10 slammed the “fake news” being propagated about the New Senate Building located in Taguig City, saying she too is surprised where the information gathered by the new Senate President is coming from.

This, after Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he has ordered a review of the construction of the NSB, which he said originally cost P8.9-billion but ballooned to P23-billion.

“Sa totoo lang, nagulat din ako kung saan nanggagaling ang info ni (The truth is, I too am surprised at the information gathered by) SP Escudero with regard the New Senate Building,” Binay said in a statement.

“Sadly, kung noong una pa man sana ay nagkaroon ng time si SP na magtanong at alamin ang tungkol sa (if the Senate president had time to ask us and learn more about the) construction developments, sana'y mas naliwanagan siya at nakapagbigay s'ya ng inputs at suggestions kung paano mas makakatipid at 'di maantala ang paglipat ng Senado sa bagong gusali (he could have been enlightened and gave additional inputs and suggestions about how the Senate can save and how the transfer to the new building can commence without delay),” she added.

Binay handled the Senate accounts committee, which is in charge of overseeing the construction of the NSB, before the sudden Senate leadership change. Upon Escudero’s election as the new Senate leader, the accounts panel was given to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Back in 2019, Binay recalled that Escudero was an incumbent senator and part of the 17th Congress. She said she believes he has been made aware of the project costs of the NSB.

In February 2019, she pointed out that Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, then chairman of the Senate Committee on Accounts during the term of then Senate President Vicente Sotto III, had made it clear on the floor that the approved Multi-year Obligation Authority (MYOA) for the NSB is P8.9-billion.

The amount covers the “core and shell” of the four-tower NSB—and the interior and fit-outs are entirely separate.

Binay also rejected Escudero’s claim the NSB has limited to no sufficient parking area, as he announced to the Senate employees during the flag raising ceremony this morning.

“Eto na naman po tayo tungkol sa parking. Meron pong three-level basement parking ang Senate building sa Taguig. Fake news po 'yung walang parking (Here we go again about the parking. The Senate building in Taguig has a three-level basement parking. Saying that is has no parking is fake news),” she said.

“During my watch as chair of the committee on accounts, we have sent official invitations to all senators for ocular inspections and one-on-one briefings about the progress, status, timelines, and other matters with regard the NSB,” she said.

While she understands that the Senate President meant well in reviewing the budget for New Senate Building, Binay said she hopes the review would be quick.

“Sana madaliin nila ang review (I hope they can expedite the review). We want to avoid any unneccesary expense brought by the delay,” Binay said.

“There is a sense of urgency to complete the construction by 2025. Delays would mean cost adjustments, additional charges, penalties, and another round of rental,” she pointed out.

“The Senate cannot afford any set back because each day of delay has cost implications—I agree with SP that we need to look for ways to bring the costs down,” she stressed.

Binay said she is waiting to be called and asked by the Senate leadership to shed more details about the new NSB.

“If there are questions and some clarifications, or things that need to be verified or validated, or to check if some information are indeed factual or simply intended to sow misinformation and spread falsehoods—I am just a call or text away,” she emphasized.

“Kung sana ay nakapag-usap kami ni SP, mas malinaw at factual info ang maibibigay ko, kaysa umasa s'ya sa mga marites at mga bubuyog na bumubulong-bulong (Had the Senate President talked to us, I could have given him clear and factual information, than him relying on gossips and rumour mongers),” Binay said.