Lacson eyes scrapping P16-B right-of-way fund under public works 2019 budget
SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Monday said that he would push for the removal of at least P16 billion in road right-of-way (ROW) funds under the proposed 2019 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) unless the agency could justify the allocation.
In an interview after attending the Senate finance committee hearing on the P555.67 billion proposed budget of the DPWH for 2019, Lacson said he asked the agency to submit a detailed list of all infrastructure projects that were suspended and the details for their suspension.
According to the senator, some of the projects of the DPWH were suspended because of unsettled road right-of-way issues, which could have been prevented if the agency complied with Republic Act 10752 or “The Right-of-Way Act”.
“It was clear in RA10752 that DPWH should settle first the ROW before the agency commences with project,” Lacson said.
The senator said that there were a number of cases wherein ROW settlements were done simultaneously with the implementation of projects, which usually delayed their completion.
“We really have to make sure that ROW has been settled before we allow funds to be allotted on a particular project to prevent wastage of funds,” Lacson said.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, in a separate interview, said that the agency was ready to comply with the request of the Senate to justify the ROW allocation.
“Whatever is provided for in the Republic Act, we will follow. We will just coordinate with Sen. Lacson in order to address any issue,” Villar said.
The DPWH chief, however, admitted that while the agency was serious in complying with the law, there would always be problems that would crop up that cause delays.
“But we always make sure that it is addressed properly and that the contractor shoulders all expenses,” Villar added. JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA
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