No less than House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III has ordered the fast-tracking of the passage of a measure that would give a much-needed upgrade to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

This was revealed by Bulacan 6th district Rep. Salvador Pleyto, who on Monday, Nov. 3, led a technical briefing on bills granting "more teeth" to the commission that's investigating the flood control projects mess.

Pleyto, chairman of the Committee on Government Reorganization, said Speaker Dy wants the House of Representatives to approve the measure creating the "Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption" on third and final reading on Monday, Nov. 17.

This will have been one week after the lower chamber resumed it's sessions following the month-long 'Undas" holidays.

"The gravity of establishing a body like the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption cannot be overstated, and the work done today ensures we proceed with a clear understanding of all facets involved," the Bulacan solon said during the technical briefing.

To facilitate this swift passage, Pleyto said his committee will conduct a public hearing on Nov. 11 on House Bill (HB) No 4453, authored by a group led by Mamamayang Liberal (ML)Pparty-list Rep. Leila De Lima; and HB No.5699, filed by Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco.

Both bills seeks to institutionalize the independent commission that's looking into alleged anomalous and "ghost" flood control projects--a massive corruption scandal that has rocked the Marcos administration.

In the two months that the ICI has been conducting hearings and referring cases to the Office of the Ombudsman, critics have pointed out the commission’s lack of necessary powers to make its probe more effective.

Pleyto said the additional powers stipulated in the twin bills will make a huge difference to the commission.

“Ito po ay para ma-strengthen natin, mapalakas natin yung ngipin ng ICI. Alam naman natin na wala silang contempt power…subpoena power, bibigyan din natin sila ng karapatan na mag-hold departure order…Tsaka yung [filing] direct sana. Kung mapapasa natin itong bill na ito direkta nila sila mag-file ng kaso sa Sandiganbayan,” Pleyto said in a interview after the hearing.

(This is so we can strengthen, reinforce the teeth of the ICI. We know they don’t have contempt power…subpoena power, we’ll also give them the authority to issue hold departure orders…And hopefully, direct filing. If we pass this bill, they’ll be able to file cases directly with the Sandiganbayan.)

Under the current system, the ICI submits case referrals--basically recommendations--to the Ombudsman, which then files the cases before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

The Pleyto panel is expected to pass a consolidated version of the bills on Nov. 11. By Tuesday, Nov. 12, the measure will have been approved on second reading in plenary. This paves the way for its third reading passage on Nov. 17.

Pleyto said he will ask Dy if he could request Malacañang to certify the passage of the measure as urgent. If such request is granted, then the House can pursue third and final reading of the bill as early as next week.

“Siguro walang congressman na kokontra dito kasi para sa ikabubuti ng ating taumbayan ito para matapos na po itong mga korapsyon na ito (Probably no congressman will oppose this because it’s for the good of our people, so that this corruption can finally end)," Pleyto said.

After the deliberation of the government reorganization panel, Pleyto said the measure will be transmitted to the House Committee on Appropriations for the approval of its budget provisions.

"Imagine wala silang pondo galing lang sa contingent fund ng ating Pangulo, kailangan magkakaroon sila ng sarili nilang pondo para sa machineries nila, para sa staff nila yung secretariat para sa suweldo, yung iba pang pangangailangan,” he said of the ICI, which was created via executive order.

(Imagine, they have no budget, it only comes from the President’s contingent fund. They need to have their own funding for their machineries, for their staff, the secretariat, for salaries, and other needs.)