Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday called for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to convene a “high-level” meeting to expedite the construction of the New Senate Building (NSB), stressing the need for transparent cooperation from the department.
The request follows Cayetano’s participation in the Senate Committee on Finance’s budget briefing for the proposed 2025 DPWH budget on September 9, 2024. During the briefing, Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who had previously not attended the NSB hearings, presented the budget of his department.
“Ang hihingin ko lang sa inyo ay honesty at deadline. I just want to get the right price and finish it,” Cayetano, chair of the Senate Committee on Accounts (CA), said, noting that he had invited the Secretary twice.
The senator stressed that transparency in the review of this high-cost project is crucial to ensure it can be presented to the public with pride.
“I commit to you and ang intention dito ay kung paano magiging proud ang mga tao sa napakagandang building na ginagawa. Ang hindi ko malaman ay kung bakit ayaw ibigay sa akin ang buong katotohanan,” he said.
To expedite the project, Cayetano urged Bonoan and key officials to hold a high-level meeting that will clarify the current timeline and accurate cost of the project. He warned that any further delays would result in blame being placed on him and Senate President (SP) Francis Escudero.
“Wala naman ibang sisisihin ‘pag na-delay ‘yan kundi si SP at ako,” he said.
“We have time to get it done. I just want to let the SP know three things: one, kailan natin matatapos ‘yan; two, magkano pa ang kailangan para matapos; and three, how do we work backwards from the time na matatapos at magkano para magawa ito,” he added.
