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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Cayetano eyes 'high-level' meeting with DPWH to speed up NSB construction

Cayetano eyes 'high-level' meeting with DPWH to speed up NSB construction

Published Sep 10, 2024 05:18 am

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano wants to conduct a "high-level" meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in a bid to expedite the construction of the New Senate Building (NSB).

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(Photo from the Office of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano)

Cayetano said this as he emphasized the need for transparent cooperation from the department.


He mentioned this during the Senate Committee on Finance’s budget briefing for the proposed 2025 DPWH budget on September 9, 2024. During the briefing, Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who had previously not attended the NSB hearings, presented his department's budget.

“Ang hihingin ko lang sa inyo ay honesty at deadline (I'm just asking for your honesty and the deadline). I just want to get the right price and finish it,” Cayetano, chair of the Senate Committee on Accounts (CA), said, noting that he had invited the Secretary twice.

The senator stressed that transparency in reviewing this high-cost project is crucial to ensure it can be presented to the public with pride.

“I commit to you and ang intention dito ay kung paano magiging proud ang mga tao sa napakagandang building na ginagawa. Ang hindi ko malaman ay kung bakit ayaw ibigay sa akin ang buong katotohanan (I commit to you and the intention here is how can the people be proud of the building being constructed. What I cannot get is why they won't tell me the whole truth),” he said.

To expedite the project, Cayetano urged Bonoan and key officials to hold a high-level meeting that will clarify the current timeline and accurate cost of the project. He warned that any further delays would result in blame being placed on him and Senate President (SP) Francis Escudero.

“Wala naman ibang sisisihin ‘pag na-delay ‘yan kundi si SP at ako (No one else will be blamed for its delay other than me and SP),” he said.

“We have time to get it done. I just want to let the SP know three things: one, kailan natin matatapos ‘yan; two, magkano pa ang kailangan para matapos; and three, how do we work backwards from the time na matatapos at magkano para magawa ito (one, when will this be finished; two, how much is needed before it gets finished; and three, how do we work backwards from the time this will be finished and how much to do it),” he added. 

Related Tags

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano new senate building Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero
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