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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hosaka says ICI budget already out

Hosaka says ICI budget already out

Published Dec 5, 2025 02:50 pm

At A Glance

  • The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) confirmed on Friday, Dec. 5 the release of its budget, a day after outgoing Commissioner Babes Singson disclosed that the body had been practically operating sans its promised funding.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) confirmed on Friday, Dec. 5 the release of its budget, a day after outgoing Commissioner Babes Singson disclosed that the body had been practically operating sans its promised funding.
​According to ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka, ICI's Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the morning of Dec. 5.
The independent body had been holding hearings on the flood control projects controversy since mid-September.
"Mag coordinate na lang kami sa LBP (Land Bank of the Philippines) if maari nang magamit ang pondo ng ICI (We will just coordinate with LBP if we can already use the funds for the ICI)," he added.
In a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 4, Singson--who announced his resignation from the body effective Dec. 15--claimed that ICI volunteers had not yet received their salaries.
"Up to today, I think, wala pang nagsesweldo dyan sa mga volunteers dito (none of the volunteers have been compensated)," he said.
Singson, in a television interview on the same day, also bared that he even "had to ask friends from the private sectors" to lend them printers for their office needs. They were also bringing their own laptops to work.
Singson rued that ICI was created without immediate funding. Thus, he likened their situation to soldiers who were asked to enter into a war without any weapons.
Following his remark, Malacañang Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said ICI already received its P41-million funding for 2025, although the release of the money encountered a delay.
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