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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos open to moves giving ICI more powers

Marcos open to moves giving ICI more powers

Published Sep 16, 2025 01:43 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a press conference at the Malacañan Palace on Sept. 15, 2025 to announce the chair of the newly-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure. (Mark Balmores)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a press conference at the Malacañan Palace on Sept. 15, 2025 to announce the chair of the newly-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure. (Mark Balmores)
While President Marcos defined the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) as a fact-finding team that has no contempt power, he will not close his doors for efforts to give the body more powers.
A group of lawmakers has urged Congress to fast-track the passage of House Bill 4453, which seeks to institutionalize ICI citing the need for contempt and expanded subpoena powers.
"Ang sabi po ng Pangulo, ito’y fact-finding commission. So, hindi po kinakailangan talaga po na magkaroon ng power na mag-punish doon sa mga taong hindi dadalo (The President said that this is a fact-finding commission. So, it is not really necessary for it to have the power to punish those who will not attend)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
"Pero kung iyon po ay ibibigay sa independent commission ng mga mambabatas, maganda po iyang suhestiyon at iyan po ay welcome na welcome po sa Pangulo (But if that authority will be granted to an independent commission by the legislators, that is a good suggestion and something the President very much welcomes)," Castro added.
The Palace official also said that "if the contents of the bill are good, we can count on the President."
Meanwhile, the Senate is also pushing to institutionalize ICI, a move that would ensure that the President's executive order would continue and become a permanent law.  
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has said that he would formally request Marcos to certify as urgent Senate Bill 1215, also known as the Independent People’s Commission.
Castro said every move that seeks to strengthen the ICI would be welcome.
"Malamang nakita rin po ng mga mambabatas kung anong kahalagahan ng ginawa ng Pangulo na mag-create po ng independent commission (The lawmakers have likely also seen the importance of the President’s move to create an independent commission)," Castro said.
"Welcome po ang lahat ng maaaring maitulong para mas maging malakas pa po ang kapangyarihan ng independent commission na ito dahil iisa lamang din po ang adhikain nito, iisa ang layunin nito – mapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot (Any form of support that can help further strengthen the authority of this independent commission is welcome, because it has only one goal, one purpose—to hold accountable those who must be held accountable)," she added.
The three-man commission began working on Tuesday. According to Malacañang, they met at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) office in Manila.
Budget for ICI
Castro said the ICI's maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlay will come from the contingency fund, while the personal services will be sourced out from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPDF).
The Palace official disclosed that they will begin determining the budget once the organizational structure, to be approved by the executive director of the ICI, has been provided.
She said that the executive director of the ICI may be appointed "within this week."
According to Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, they are already working on the structure of the ICI's personal services.
"Now, for personal service, we are already working on their structure. May executive director and then yung tatlo and then syempre may tao sa baba (There's an executive director, then the three members, and of course the people under them)," Pangandaman said in an interview on Tuesday.
"We will create the positions accordingly. I'm just waiting for the announcement of the Executive Director. Upuan namin, may draft na ako, e (We will work on this, I already have a draft), several options already. And then 'pag na-create na natin yung (if we have created the) positions, we'll charge it doon sa ating MPDF," she added.

Related Tags

President Marcos Independent Commission for Infrastructure flood control mess ICI
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