Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaligan on Thursday, August 21 has denied allegations he proposed flood control projects in his province.

Panaligan was referring to Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s claims which he disclosed during his privilege speech on Wednesday. 

“But I just want to make it clear that the main proponent of that project is none other than the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways). And that is included in the National Expenditure Program or NEP that is submitted to Congress,” he said in a media interview.

According to Panaligan, the flood control projects in the municipalities of Naujan, Baco, and others that were cited in Lacson’s speech, were already in the NEP. 

“It was already there. We didn’t propose that.  But it was already in the NEP,” he said, denying he even asked to include the projects in the list.

Panaligan also denied knowing any of the contractors behind the projects and that all the contractors come from the regional or national. 

“No one from Mindoro knows any of the contractors,” he said.

He also said he wrote a letter to DPWH Public Works Secretary Manny Bonoan last year, complaining about the poor construction of the flood control projects.

According to Panaligan, he called the attention of the DPWH because the newly constructed flood control project in Naujan was already damaged.

“I asked Secretary Bonoan to reassess, reevaluate the programs and check the structural integrity and the effectiveness of these projects,” he said.

The solon said he is willing to sit down with Lacson to explain his side or deliver a privilege speech “to clear things up” noting that in his speech, the senator alleged he was the main proponent or who funded the said questionable flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.