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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Koko tells 'Young Guns' bloc: Check 'dramatic increase' in House budget first

Koko tells 'Young Guns' bloc: Check 'dramatic increase' in House budget first

Published Jun 13, 2024 09:06 am

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III told members of the House's so-called "Young Guns" bloc to check the "dramatic increase" in its 2024 budget before criticizing the review of the New Senate building (NSB).

"I advise the Young Guns in the House of Representatives to first look at the dramatic increase in the budget of the House from P16 billion as reflected in the President's budget to the final amount of P28 billion in the General Appropriations Law," he said in a message to reporters.

"Their time and efforts are better spent in making sure that there is no wastage of public funds in the expenditure of the extra funds of the House of Representatives," he added.

Specifically airing their criticism on this supposed "wasteful spending" on the new Senate building were 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun, and La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V--members of the so-called "Young Guns" bloc.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero recently said that there is a need to review the New Senate Building (NSB) after learning that the expenses needed for its construction ballooned to P23 billion.

Escudero expressed shock and disbelief at the unexpectedly high projected costs needed to complete the new Senate building, noting that these expenses are particularly hard to accept given the economic crisis most Filipinos face.

The Senate leader said that the total amount approved for the construction of the NSB was P8.9 billion but this ballooned to P13 billion.

The Senate Accounts panel used to be headed by Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay but was given to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano in the aftermath of a sudden leadership change last May.

Asked to comment on the increase of the NSB construction, Pimentel said that they need to be briefed about it first, as well as the various "variation orders".

"Why did these happen? Were the "architectural and engineering plans" too incompetently done? Has the project monitoring by the DPWH been competently done too?" he asked.

Related Tags

Young Guns House of Representatives Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III new senate building
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