The House of Representatives' Infrastructure Committee (infra comm) inquiry on the flood control projects corruption scandal will have to wrap up sooner than later.

Thus, said Deputy Speaker Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin, who confirmed that the new House leadership under Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III has addressed the matter internally.

"Nagkausap-usap na no ang mga liderato ng Kamara. At dahil nandyan na yung ICI or the Independent Commission on Infrastructure projects (The leaders of the House have held discussions. And because the ICI or the Independent Commission on Infrastructure projects is already there), the [House] infra comm has to fold," Garin said in a recent interview.

"Kailangan na ito siguro ang tapusin at yun ang direction (Perhaps this must be concluded now and that is the direction), to turn over all the pertinent documents that we have gathered [to the ICI]," she said.

Led by its overall chairman Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, the infra comm has held two hearings on the controversy so far. Especially explosive was its Sept. 9 hearing, when ex-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez implicated Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in anomalous flood mitigation projects.

But in recent weeks, the Palace-created ICI has begun to convene and interview witnesses like Hernandez.

President Marcos specifically formed the ICI to address the public's call for an independent investigation uninfluenced by lawmakers. It should be noted that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is also holding its own investigation on the matter.

Dy, Isabela's 6th district congressman, took over the reins from Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, who resigned as House Speaker last Sept. 17.

At any rate, Garin said the hearings have unveiled where the "opportunities" for corruption are, as well as who the "opportunists" are.

The deputy speaker also said that the House will follow through with proposed reforms on the legislative side, since the infra comm hearings were done in aid of legislation.

Asked if the infra comm should conduct one final hearing to formally end its proceedings, Garin said it's up to Ridon.

"Well, I leave it to the chair. But as I was hearing, papunta nga doon na isasaran na siya (it's moving toward it's conclusion," she said.

"And with that being said, our role will now be to fully cooperate kung mayroong kakailanganing dokumento, kung mayroong kakailanganing impormasyon, kung mayroong mga taong kakailangan," Garin said.

(And with that being said, our role will now be to fully cooperate if any documents are needed, if any information is required, or if there are people who need to be involved.)

"Congress, the House of Representatives will fully support this and will fully cooperate and coordinate everything that the ICI will need from our end," the lady solon further said.