Senator Erwin Tulfo is bent on investigating "new names" once the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes its probe on the flood control projects corruption scandal.

According to Tulfo, committee chairman, the Blue Ribbon panel will continue the investigation on the flood control mess as soon as it convenes in an official Senate session after it resumes on July 27..

Tulfo clarified in a radio interview Sunday, July 19 the proper process in convening a Senate committee:

“In the morning of [July] 27, which is the SONA, we will formalize the Blue Ribbon Committee. We cannot conduct a hearing yet because the membership has not yet been finalized. There will still be submissions of names to complete the membership and have it declared on the Senate floor—so it becomes official,” he said.

The rookie senator acknowledged that it's not a fresh investigation on the matter.

“We will have flood control investigation. But what if the same names as to those who were charged by the Ombudsman due to the first Blue Ribbon Committee Report will come up again? Are we going to repeat it?"

"There has to be new names,” Tulfo underscored.

He said he will invite all the stakeholders and will introduce new rules such as stricter treatment on affidavits and prohibition on surprise witnesses.

All these reforms, according to Tulfo, will be introduced properly once the panel is officially convened.

The Blue Ribbon panel chairman also noted that a proactive effort to prevent the flood control scam from happening again requires a Philippine infrastructure masterplan so projects will not rely on politics.

“The flood control scam, being out in the open, can be considered a blessing in disguise. We discovered that the reason behind the non-stop flooding problem, our roads. It’s because the funds are being pocketed,” Tulfo said.

“For too long, infrastructure planning has largely been tied to the priorities of each administration. If we, have a masterplan, it doesn't matter where the next President would be coming from,” he added.

He then urged his colleagues to support the push for his Senate Bill (SB) no. 1360 or the “Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act”.

The said bill will establish a whole-of-government strategy so infrastructure projects in the country. Projects with national significance will be prioritized but the measure will ensure that these will be connected to regional and sectoral development plans.

Once Tulfo’s MIND Act turns into a law, this will harmonize all infrastructure projects from big-ticket to minor ones.

“This measure will also help ensure that public resources are used more efficiently. If we have good planning, we will remove duplications, ramp up implementation, and bolster accountability. Every peso invested in infrastructure should create the greatest possible benefit for the Filipinos,” he concluded.