This happened at the bicameral conference. They begin at the district level, where collusions between the bureaucrats and politicians take place. Ladies and gentlemen, we are still in consideration of the motu proprio inquiry in aid of legislation on the Philippines underwater.
including the privileged speech of Senator Panpilo Lacson entitled Flooded Gates of Corruption, delivered on August 20, 2025. At this point, let me ask the Director General to acknowledge the witnesses and resource persons. Your Honor, if I may be allowed to proceed. Proceed.
Currently present are Governor Humerlito Bonsay Dolor, Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro. Good morning, Governor. Thank you for your time. From the Commission on Audit, Ms. Tracy Ann Sunico, Acting Assistant Director, Cluster 7, Defense, Security, and Gas, representing the Chairman.
Attorney Gamaliel Cordoba, and Ms. Cinderella Esperanza Santos. From the Department of Public Works, Undersecretary Maria Catalina I. Cabral, Assistant Secretary Constante Llanes, Director Luz de la Rosa, Internal Audit Service. Director Alan Borromeo, Bureau of Construction.
Director Reynaldo P. Faustino, Bureau of Quality and Safety. Regional Director Gerard Opulencia, OIC Regional Director, NCR. Regional Director Roselier Tolentino, Regional Director Region 3. Engineer Henry Alcantara, former District Engineer Bulakan, 1st District Engineering Office. Engineer Bryce Erickson Hernandez, former Assistant District Engineer Bulakan, 1st District Engineering Office.
Is he present here? Yes, sir, he is. Where is he?
You sit down here. She done. Proceed, Director General.
Engineer J.P. Engineer J.P. Mendoza. Chief Construction Division, Dulacan First District Engineering Office. Mr. Chair, can we ask Engineer J.P. Mendoza also to take his seat? Where is he?
Mr. Chair, we would also like to acknowledge the presence of Honorable Tobias Tobi M. Tianko, District Representative, City of Novotas. Thank you for your time, Congressman Tobi. Engineer R.J. Damasig. Project Engineer, Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. Engineer Merg Haron Laus, Materials Engineer, Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
From the Bureau of Customs, the Commissioner is represented by Attorney Vincent Maronilla, Assistant Commissioner. From the National Bureau of Investigation, Judge Jaime B. Santiago is present. From the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Attorney Matthew David, Executive Director. From the Government Procurement Policy Board, Technical Support Office, Attorney Maria Dionesia Rivera-Gillermo. Let me acknowledge the Presidents of Senator Amy Marcos.
Proceed. From the River Basin Control Office, Dr. Sibilio David, Executive Director. From the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, PICAB, Dr. Pericles Dakay. From the construction companies, Mr. Alex Abelido, President, Legacy Construction Corporation. Ms. Cesara Rowena Discaia, President, Alpha and Omega, General Contractor and Development Corporation.
Ms. Maria Roma Angelin Rimando, Owner, Manager, St. Timothy Construction Corporation. Mr. Ernie Bagau, Owner, Proprietor, EGB Construction Corporation. Mr. Yomir Villanueva, President, Top Notch Catalyst Builders, Inc. Mr. Lawrence Lubiano, President, Centerways Construction and Development, Inc. Ms. Aderma Anjali Alcázar, President, CEO, SunWest Incorporated.
Mr. Edgar Acosta was also sent a show-cause order. but he is represented by Mr. Sozil Marbella, the new president. Mr. Mark Alan Arevalo, general manager of Wawa Builders.
Ms. Marjorie Samidan, president of MG Samidan Construction. Mr. Luisito Tiki, president of LR Tiki Builders, Inc. Mr. Ryan Willie D. Uy, Proprietor, Road Edge Trading and Development Services. Mr. Edgardo Sagun, Owner, Manager, Edmarie Construction and Trading.
Mr. Alvin Diego, Authorized Managing Officer, Silver Wolves Construction Corporation. Ms. Melanie Raimundo. Authorized Managing Officer, Raymond Builders, Inc. Ms. Maritone Melegrito, Authorized Managing Officer, Elite General Contractor and Development Corporation.
Ms. Sally M. Santos, Owner Manager, SYMS Construction Corporation, Construction Trading. Mr. Pacifico Diskaya. St. Gerard General Contractor and Development Corporation.
From the insurance company, sorry. The Secretary of DBM, Secretary Pangandaman is also here, Your Honor. From the insurance companies, Mr. Edgardo David. President and General Manager, Travelers Insurance Security Corporation, Ms. Josefina Salvador, Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Insurance Corporation, Attorney Darren DeJesus, President and CEO, Milestone Guarantee and Assurance Corporation, and from the DPWH, latecomers, Your Honor, Engineer Jason Hauko, the Insurance Commissioner, Attorney, Reynaldo Regalado is also here.
From DBM's, Crescencia Zuma and USEC, Rolando Toledo. And two more, Virgilio Eduarte from the Department of Public Works and Highways. And from 8J's Construction Services, Ms. Josefina Rosario. Those are the ones present, Your Honor.
Mr. Chair, if I may. Thank you, Director General, Senator... Mr. Chair, may I ask the ComSec how many are those invited and did not attend today's hearing? Director General, please respond. Your Honor, Mayor Benjamin Bangalong was invited, but he sent a regret letter.
He says that he will testify in the House first. May we know how did he explain this? The note is this, Your Honor.
He is anticipating that he will be called as resource person before the House of Representatives. He feels that his appearance before the Senate may preclude any actions that should be taken against all persons who are answerable. He does commit that he will make himself available for the Senate as soon as his appearance is dispensed with before the House of Representatives.
Mr. Chair, the good mayor is expecting that he will be called. to testify at the House of Representatives. But did he say that there was already an actual invitation?
He did acknowledge receipt of the invitation. No, no, no. Did he receive already the actual invitation from the House of Representatives? Or he is expecting one?
We do not have that information yet, sir. In his letter, what did he say? He was about to be... He is anticipating.
He is anticipating. So there is none yet. Yes, Your Honor.
Mr. Chair, I think the letter of Mayor Magalong is valid enough for him to be excused in today's hearing. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the leadership of the House of Representatives might just invite him in the near future, Mr. Chair. So what is the wisdom of the members? Because there is a subpoena.
Was he? There is an invitation letter, and I think the invitation letter was received by him, and he declined to be present today because he is still anticipating that he will be invited by the House of Representatives. And the reason that he gave is that he might, or his presence here might preclude any action against those answerable... I do not know how to process that.
What does that mean, Senator Remy? Mr. Chair, I heard the interview of Mayor Magalong. He said that he would want to bring the battle to the battleground.
So that's what he said. That's why he wants to be the first in the House. That's what I remember, Mr. Chair. But he's not the one to judge whether or not the action is in the House of Representatives or...
in the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Senate. I am not taking this against him, but it's up to the wisdom of the members. I think we should just let him go.
He's just a person who should go here or wait for him to be invited by the House of Representatives. I think we have to leave it at that. What do you think? Yes, I agree, Mr. Chair.
It's up to him if he thinks that the battleground is there and there is no battle in the House. As a Senate. But, Mr. Chair, I don't know. And I believe he will not be invited by Congress. Simple as that, Mr. Chair.
Maybe he will not be invited by Congress. We cannot judge what the House of Representatives will do. Pero yung pong invitasyon natin malinaw na sana magpahayag sa rito, tutal tayo naman nag-imbita na, ngunit kung inihintay niya na imbitahan siya ng House of Representatives, at sinasabi naman pala ng House hindi siya iimbitahin, o de, bahala na lang sila kung anong gusto nilang mangyari. Pero as far as we are concerned, we are serious in inviting him to help us, said... on some issues that this committee is trying to deliberate on.
Let us proceed now. Yeah, before that, who else, those who are invited who did not attend today's hearing, aside from Mayor Magalong? Your Honor, Secretary Vincenzo Dizon of the DDPWH also wrote to us a letter stating that having only recently assumed office and in view of the series of meetings and hearings already being conducted on the matter, and Thank you.
He has had not sufficient opportunity to address several urgent and pending concerns of the department. And for the information of the body, he also called me up and said that he still has a lot of papers to be arranged. And since he sent me some USECs who can answer your initial questions, I hope you will be able to understand what I did not send.
Today, this is all. And in my opinion, it's okay that we give it. I think that is a very valid excuse, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Who else? All the contractors are present here?
And the DPWH officials that were invited, are they all present? Engineer Eugenio Pipo, former Undersecretary of Regional Operations. He's not here?
He's not here. Where is he? He wrote a letter saying that...
He had tendered his resignation on August 20, 2025, which was accepted by former DPW Secretary Bonoan on August 29. Furthermore, as of August 29, Undersecretary Adolf G. Canlas has been designated by former Secretary Bonoan as Undersecretary for Regional Operations. But that one is not a valid excuse, even if you resigned. For courtesy, you had to be present because...
you are invited to appear. Anyway, we will deal with that matter in the next sessions that we will take. I would say that Representative Toby Chanko intimated to this representation that because he needs to be back to the House of Representatives as soon as he can.
He requested that his testimony be first taken so that he can be excused as soon as we can. I approve and I think the body will agree that any way that he is present today, we can start with him. Unless there is an objection, I would start the questioning and I will take advantage of his presence.
Ladies and gentlemen. Congressman Toby, I am very grateful that despite your very busy schedule, you made time to appear before us. Let me first ask you that in one of your hearings at the House of Representatives, where particularly the insertions have been discussed, I remember Representative Eguy Erice.
And yourself were asking that Representative Elizalde Coe be invited in order for him to shed light on the issues being taken up in that hearing. Am I correct, sir? Yes, Your Honor. And this came up after former Secretary Manny Bonoan told the committee that He does not know where, or he does not know the persons responsible in putting the insertions during the BICAM conference. Is that correct?
Your Honor, can I clarify that statement? Yes, please. This is what happened there. So, it started, the first one who was interpellated was Congressman Erice.
So, Congressman Erice said, at the end, he said to Secretary Bonoan, Do you know what the amount added to the department when it comes to the BICAM? The answer of Secretary Bonoan at the time was that we don't know because we are not part of the BICAM. We will just see that when it comes to the General Appropriations Act. So that's what was started then. So what Congressman Evisanon said, since Secretary Bonoan doesn't know, the person to ask is Congressman Evisanon.
So he made a motion to invite Congressman Saldico to the committee and that is what he is saying. That is what Congressman Benny Abante is saying. Why is Congressman Abante saying that?
What they are saying is that he cannot be a resource person. ...ang isang congressman. Kaya tinuloy ko po, kaya po ako nagsalita, kumingi ako ng pasya kay Congressman Ariza because he had the floor, if I could make a manifestation. Sabi ko, kung ganyan po na hindi pa pwedeng resource person ang isang congressman, hindi na dapat ituloy itong investigasyon na to sa House, kasi sabi nung chairman nung una, walang sasantuhin, kahit congressman, kahit senador, kahit sino. Eh kung hindi po pa pwedeng mag-testify under oath, Or a congressman cannot be a resource person.
It means that the congressman is exempt from the investigation. That's what happened. Why is it so important, why is it so important that we need to know who are the people responsible for giving the insertions to BICAM or even to other sessions? Because we, I'm not a member of BICAM, so we just discovered this when, I just learned about it, I think March 24. March 24, I just learned that it's that big.
We thought at first PhilHealth was the only one who did it, DepEd was the only one. Later on, I discovered that the flagship projects of the administration, the president of BBM, It means that some flagship projects, foreign-assisted projects, they removed funds to raise funds that... Gusto na isingit doon sa BICAM. So kaya po, ako rin, napakalaga po rin sa akin, na maimbitahan si Congressman Saldico. At doon po sa House of Representatives, meron pong small committee doon, pagkatas ng secondary ding.
So ang pag-insert is not only doon sa BICAM, meron pang insertion doon sa small committee. So since walang makakasagot niyan, kung hindi si Congressman Saldico, yun po, re-request po natin na siya imbitahan. Do you know who the members of the small committee you're talking about are?
In the House of Representatives? Yes. Yes, sir.
The chairman of that is Congressman Saldico, and Senior Vice Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Majority Leader of the 19th Congress, and Minority Leader of the 19th Congress, Your Honor. Who is the Vice Chair of Appropriations? Senior Vice Chair is Congresswoman Stella Luz Quimbo. Who is the Majority Leader? Congressman Manix de Lipe, Your Honor.
Minority Leader? Congressman Nonoy Libanon, Your Honor. In my opinion, there are four people who compose the small committee.
Yes, Your Honor. What is happening is, as I know, because I have been in a low position for a long time, sometimes we have two to three months to debate the budget. We will fight again if sometimes we reach a quick day. And at the end of what you're saying, only four people will do the things that you want to know about what happened.
You're right, Your Honor. I said that we will lose, we will give inputs to our colleagues, and at the end, only four people will make the decision. And the problem with those four people is the BICAM.
There's a BICAM report. You will see in the BICAM report what the original NEP budget of a department is, Your Honor. Then you will see what was added or removed, Your Honor, and you will see the remaining funds.
The problem with the small committee is that there is no... Remember the first day of our budget briefing, when Sec. Mina and Usec.
Cathy were there, I asked for the report of... ng small committee. Kasi po, diba, sa rules po natin sa House of Representatives, Section 39, kung di ako nagkakamali, pero baka mali ako, nakasulat po doon na after, seven days after may pasa ang isang batas, or 15 days pagkatapos mag-end ang session, dapat po i-file sa archives lahat ng reports tungkol sa isang House Bill. So una po ako nagpahanap sa akin, Staff, Your Honor, ng records doon sa archives.
Wala pong mahanap. Kaya nung first day ng budget briefing, hiningi ko po. Wala din sila.
Hanggang ngayon, wala po silang binibigay. So ibig sabihin, sabi ko, kung walang record yan, ang siguradong nakakalam po niyan, Your Honor, is si Congressman Saldico. Bago po tayo magpatuloy, let me acknowledge the presence of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
You didn't see anything in the archives or you don't want to show it? No, because the archives, you know, Your Honor, the archives in the House of Representatives are very good. Even the deliberations of the 1987 Constitution, look for it there.
All of them, transcript, journal, it's complete. That's really nothing. And when I asked, the ComSec didn't answer where it was.
I said, just email me. And it took a long time. I didn't email. So it really didn't exist.
And it's impossible that... Walang nakakaalam nun. Alam po ninyo, meron po nga tayong tuntunin sa House of Representatives kahit na po yung kopya ng enrolled bill.
May tatlong kopya po dapat na nandun po dapat sa opisina ng Secretary General. Sinubukan ko rin po sanang manghiram nun kung meron, pero hindi rin po nila naipakikita. Pero ganito po, so ayaw po nila talagang payagan na maimbita si Representative Saldico. Is there a chance that you will see who really did the insertions in the BICAM?
No, what I did, Your Honor, is I did research on who did the insertions. How did you do the research? Like this, okay, that has a long history, Your Honor.
To be very blunt about it, when the flagship projects were reduced, The President, when he saw in the street that his big project was gone, the flagship projects of the government, he was already looking for where it went. So I wasn't there at the first meeting, but I think, there was a meeting, I think, I heard it in January, the Senate President was asked, the Senate President Escudero was asked, what she um um Speaker Martin Romualdez, asked for the list of insertions in the budget. My knowledge, I repeat, I was not there at the first meeting, Senate President Escudero gave the list of Senate amendments three days after the meeting.
When I was called to the meeting on March 24, I found out that the House of Representatives was not yet giving out the list of the House of Representatives at that time, on March 24. That's why I was included in that meeting, to ask the House of Representatives for the list of the House of Representatives' insertions. That's why I was included in that meeting on March 24. March 24, 2025 was the first meeting. So because of your ambition to know who the insurances are, who went there, and who will do it, how will you eventually know if you really know?
No, it's like this, Your Honor. So March 24, when I went out there... Because Secretary Bonoan was in a hurry. Because his worry was that March 29, there will be an election ban. So he won't be able to do the projects.
And if he doesn't do the projects, our entire economy will be affected. So every time I went out, I called Congressman J.J. Suarez. Because he told me during that meeting that since my salary is gone, ang kumakausap na lang.
um, sa mga department secretaries ay si Congressman J.J. Suarez. So, ang ginawa ko po your honor, tinawagan ko siya, hiningi ko po yung, yung, yung listahan, yung insertions. Pero nagtagal po, bago po nila naibigay sakin, I think three batches bago po nila naibigay sakin yung kompletong listahan po, nung sa House of Representatives. Samagat po ay kinausap nyo si Congressman J.J. Suarez, ah, nagbigay naman po ba siya ng informasyon na inyong hinihingi?
I called him. At first, he gave me a hard copy. I said, how am I going to find this hard copy?
But it took a while. I just checked what date he gave it to me. As long as it's not right away. Then, what happened was, he gave it in three tranches.
First, he gave me one batch. Second, he gave me one batch. Then, the other batch took a while. So, I said, I won't check if...
And I can't submit to the executive branch if it's not complete. So later on, we forced them to give the complete list, Your Honor. What did you see when they gave the complete list to you?
What I did, Your Honor, is I compared the... Admittedly, all of us, congressmen, when we see the NEP, the natural tendency is to ask for extra for our district. Okay?
So susulat po kami. At least ako, sumusulat ako. So syempre, nung binigay sa akin yung listahan, ang unang naisip ko noon, ang una kong naisip is, kung ikaw, congressman, hihingi ka para doon sa distrito mo.
Hindi ka naman hihingi para sa ibang distrito. So minatch-match ko po yung... The data, the length of it, I don't know how many, the first thing I did, because there's no congressman there, the district is the only one.
So for me to know the congressman, I asked Yusek Cathy, I brought the file to her, and she can confirm this, she's here. I said, Yusek, please put one by one, put who the congressman is, because I want to compare the proponent and the... congressional district. Eh kung congressional district, hindi ko naman kabisado kung sino yung congressman doon eh. So ang sabi ko sa kanya, pakilagay mo yung pangalan ng congressman.
So binalik niya po sa akin. Pagkatapos noon, sabi ko po kay congressman Suarez, ikaw naman, ilagay mo yung pangalan ng proponent. Sabi niya, bakit kailangan yung proponent? Eh kailangan siyempre malaman kung sino yung nag-request.
So later on, matagal, matagal, matagal, hanggang nung sinabi ko, walang gagalaw dito, hindi ko ma-pre-present ito. Kasi pinapaayo sa akin eh. Siyempre gusto ko, pag-present ako po, dahil ako mag-pre-presentan nun, kailangan kompleto yung data.
So sabi ko, hindi ko masisimulan yung presentation kung hindi nyo ibibigay kung sino yung proponent. So later on, naibigay din. Hindi ko lang, wala lang yung telepon ako sa akin, your honor, hindi ko ma-check na andun. So, Mr. President, Usec Cathy Cabral gave you the details of the districts. Yes, Your Honor.
And Congressman J.J. Suarez gave you the details of the proponents of the districts. Yes, but it took a long time. Now, can you tell us what you noticed when you talked about the districts and the proponents?
that was given or put in those districts? What is the unusual that you noticed if there was? Your Honor, the first thing I did, of course, I'm the one who will represent.
I don't want to be the one who will represent and the data that I will represent is wrong. So the first thing I did, Your Honor, is the... Because in the BICAM, there was really something added to the votes. Okay? um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um um your honor.
Kasi ako po ay hindi member ng BICAM, so pwede lang po ako mag-request kung ano man yung pumasok doon sa BICAM, eh, amienda na pinayagan ng BICAM. Okay? So, para hindi ako mapahiya, ang una kong chinek is kung tama yung So you're in the district?
Yes, I'm in the district. Because I know how much I've been added to the BICAM. It's increased. It's increased because my request is 1.1 or 1.2.
The request that came in from the House of Representatives is 529. And there's one from the Senate that's 121. But the one from the Senate is all classrooms. So when it increased... I said, since it's right for me, that it was added to my NEP, I have confidence that the records are correct. So I did it, I sent it. What did you see in other districts that are not very unusual?
For example, in... two provinces of Mindoro, Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental. Because I'm going to take advantage of the presence of the good governor of Mindoro Oriental, that's why I'm asking. With no offense, Your Honor, to Gov. Dolor and to my fellow congressmen, district congressmen, what I noticed first is that the two... Two Mindoro, one Oriental, one Occidental.
Their NEP is something between 1.5... Let's say, to be safe, 2.5 didn't pass... But I have the figures, Your Honor.
So let's be quick, Your Honor. Their NEP didn't pass 2.5, but their GAA is... um 20 billion so i'm with in fairness don't some district congressmen your honor hindi naman sa hindi po nila kaya gawin yun hindi kayang gawin ng ng regular congressman na magdagdag hindi naman po sila member ng committee on appropriations pabehong first term congressman po yun So they can't afford to add that much.
Because it's hard, right? In my case, I requested 1.2 billion, which was only given for 569. So how can this congressman add to that? I already checked who put the funds there.
Okay. Then, I was also surprised because, of course, I can see it in the proponent and in the district congressman. I was surprised that, for example, I know you're a former party list, Your Honor.
But there are two party lists there, which are only in the BICAM, I don't know if it's a small committee, they added 2 billion. What party list? I'm Bicol and BHW.
What I know, Your Honor, the party list, Congressman, the allocation, I don't know if I'm wrong, but I'm sure you know better, is 100 to 150 million. That's right. If you're a party-list representative, you'll be happy if you get 170 million. So you're saying that two party-lists, you got 2 billion? At the BICAM.
At the BICAM. So I didn't check your honor. Because this is a one-man team. I myself...
What is this? Let's go back to what you said. Without any offense meant to the representative of Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental, you said that they don't have the capacity to ask for such a big amount because they are not as famous as a Toby Tsianko. No. If you asked for this, you only gave half.
You said earlier that they will not exceed at least 2.5B. But what did you see? It became 20 in the tweed.
How much did it add? Where did you see it? 17, like that.
You said 2.5 to 20, 17.5. Then I saw one under proponent. I was surprised that the proponent of the addition to this district under BICAM is Congressman Saldico. Sir, your honor, may I just show the USB that I own there so I can explain it easier?
That's what we want to explain. Because it's hard to tell stories. This has a number.
Let's give a copy of the Blue Ribbon Committee. May I direct the staff of the Blue Ribbon Committee to please secure the copy from... Congressman Tianko, para makita po natin yung binabanggit niya, ipakita po natin sa screen.
Let me acknowledge also the presence of Senator Rapi Tulpo. Mr. Chair, may I interject, Mr. Chair? Yes, Senator. Yeah, I would like to direct this question to... Let me acknowledge also the presence of Senator Bato.
Continue, sir. I would like to direct this question to Congressman Toby Chanko. Sir, you said that the budget was lost by 17.5%.
Is that correct? I'll just get the exact records to make sure. You're saying that the request of that district is just to something. And you don't believe that they can't do that because they're ordinary and big congressmen.
Is that right? They're not ordinary, sir. Regular.
Regular. Yeah. What I mean to say, is that it's in that district? Is that right?
Yes, Your Honor. My question now, sir, we hear that this is a common language, the so-called parking fee. Isn't that why the fund was just given here by a congressman who is not from there?
This is what we call parking. Have you heard that, Mr. Chair? Yes, sir.
Yes, Your Honor. I've heard that. But those are two terms, right? If you remember, in Congress, one is parking, one is parking. Could you tell us the difference between parking and sagasa?
The parking, Rep. Chanko, I'm a bit of a busybody, but the sagasa, can you explain the sagasa? No, the parking, Your Honor, is, you're talking to the District Congressman, the District Congressman agreed. The sagasa, Your Honor, is, you can't do anything if you don't want to.
That's a lot. Your Honor, um So, that's two terms, Your Honor. One is parking, one is...
Because it's obvious to the Congressman that we're in a situation of crisis. How can you say we're in a situation of crisis? We were given a bond that we don't know about.
That means, Mr. Chair, that's what happened in Mindoro, it's a crisis? Your Honor, I have no personal knowledge. Your Honor, here it is.
Mindoro Oriental... DEO, 2,530 billion ang NEP. Nandito naman po si CEO Sekati, pwede niya i-confirm to kung pareho yung records namin.
Tapos, ang total budget is 20,999,000,000. Tapos, yung Mindoro Oriental DEO, 1,508,583,000. thousand, ang gaapo niya is 20,795,429.
So nagulat ako nung nakita ko yun, Your Honor. In both provinces, si Representative Saldico ang nakalagay po na proponent? Doon po sa ano.
Kasi ganito po ito. Ito na po yung total. Sabi ko nga, hindi ko makikita kung ano yung sa small committee.
What I saw when I was looking at my case salary, next slide please, that's just small. For example, this is first, ABRA. The proponent is my congressman salary. I didn't give the district congressman, sir, your honor, because I said, maybe he doesn't know anything and he will be bashed, right?
So, what was added from... To the District of Abra, is 3,468,345 pesos. Ah, yan po, Your Honor.
Okay. Yan po, out of saldi cost. Insertion. Okay, next slide. Yan na po yung Mindoro.
Yung next is Mindoro. Tignan ko lang po dito sa akin. Meron din akong kopya niyan. Next is Occidental Mindoro, 3.2 billion po yan, ang nagdagdag. Okay, next is Oriental Mindoro, 3,105,759.
Next is total po ng Romblon is 620 million. Tapos next po Bukidnon is 580,220. 580,222,000. I would like to clarify, Your Honor, I will make it clear, this is not the district of Congressman Joe Zubiri. Just to clarify, this is not his district.
Then, next, Camarines Norte, 550 million. This, what's next? Batangas, 429. Oh, there's another one, Mindoro.
I don't know why this was separated. Maybe it's a different district. 400 million.
And then Sarangani, 300. So next slide. Pag tinotal niyo po, yan, magbabalansi po yan. 13,803,693 with Congressman Saldico as proponent.
And pag tinotal mo yung district, yung subtotal, 13,803,693,000, Your Honor. For the record, ang binabanggit po nating Representative Elizaldeco, siya po yung chairman ng House Appropriations Committee. To my colleagues, Rep. Toby, if we look at and read this information, it appears that Rep. Saldico is a proponent of almost 13.8 billion. We don't know if it was stolen or stolen.
Is that our conclusion? I have a few congressmen there, they said that it's not us, we didn't request it. So, hindi na po, hindi na ako nagtanong kung parada yan or sagasa. Ang sinasabi ko lang po is, yan po yung nakita ko. Kasi normally, kung kunyari, yan po yung re-request ko, dapat ako yung proponent.
At ako rin po yung congressional district. So, pag magkaiba, magtataka kayo bakit eh. Chair, baka may dadagdag si GOV. Gov. Dolor, dahil puro Mindora ang binabanggit. Yun nga po, may I take advantage of your presence, Gov?
Tutal nababanggit naman po ang inyong provinsya. Siguro po, makapagsalita kayo, sang ayon po doon sa revelations po ni Representative Toby. Nag-request po ako kay Gov. Dolor.
Tapusin ko lang, mabilis na lang to eh. Okay. So makikita ko po, yung akubikol, yan po. The BICAM is 2,295,000,000.
Next slide. There. Next slide. There. For me, BICOL, the amount that was sent to the BICAM is 2,295,000,000.
Again, I don't know the small committee. And then for the BHW, the total is 2,064,000,000. And this, Your Honor, it's good that this was caught because until now, it's not being released. Because when it was revealed like that, it's doubtful that it's not being released.
Your Honor, I can ask Usec Cathy, I just want to clarify something, Your Honor. Please proceed. Usec, this is being done short of award, right? Yes, sir.
Kapag na lumabas na po yung GAA, pwede na po silang mag-advance procurement short of award hanggang ma-download po yung pondo sa implementing office. Okay. Yusekati, kung yan po ay short of award, ibig sabihin meron na yung lowest calculated bid. Tama po.
I'm not very familiar with procurement. Yes, most probably. Most probably. Hindi, ganito lang po. Your honor.
Point of order, Mr. Chair. Yes. With all due respect, Mr. Chair, point of order.
What is the point of order? Just to remind all of us, Mr. Chair, that the resource person, if wanting to field a question to another resource person, must do it only through the chair. They cannot do it directly.
I allowed them to do it, so that we can economize time. All right, Mr. Chair, I submit. Thank you.
Most probably, Your Honor. Your Honor, can you tell Yusek Cathy No, it's okay, Your Honor. You can ask Usecati to check if there is a lowest calculated bid short of award.
And if there is a lowest calculated bid short of award, submit it to your committee. If the... Bidding. Kung sino po yung most probably na mananalo kasi siya po yung lowest calculated bid. Sa tingin ko mo napakahalaga yun para sa inyong committee, Your Honor.
Thank you, Rep. Tobi. I think that is in order. Yusef Kati, I think you should submit to the committee kung alin na dito yung binabanggit ni Rep. Tobi na nagkaroon na ng... What is your term? Bidding short of award.
Bidding short of award. Para malaman po natin at mabantayan na. Can you do that, Usec Cathy? Yes, Your Honor. We will direct all the implementing offices, whether it's regional office or district engineering office, to submit all the bidding documents of these projects that are bidded out short of award, Your Honor.
Thank you. Thank you for your cooperation. Your Honor, ang wikas ko po, kung pa pwede, kung papayagan po ng committee, bibigyan ko po si Usec Cathy nito para ilagay na niya. The entire records should not be put on the committee, Your Honor.
The entire records should be put on the committee, Your Honor. Yes, I think that is in order. If you can, you can also give the copy to Secretary Yusek Cati.
Yes, Your Honor. Thank you, Your Honor. That's all.
Chair, you can stand up. Yes, Senator Ayme. Thank you very much, Chair.
Palibasa natututo tayo ng wika ng Kongreso. May sagasa pala, may parking pala. Ano naman yung allocable at non-allocable?
Lagi kong naririnig sa Kongreso yun, di ko maintindihan. To whom are you directing the question, Senator? Kung maari kay Congressman Toby. Kasi naririnig ko kung meron sila allocable, yung non-allocable wala sila. Ano paano ba yun?
Your Honor, I don't know the allocable and non-allocable because it's important that when the NEP comes out, I will only look at the total NEP. I'm not looking at the allocable and non-allocable. Maybe Usec Cati knows, Your Honor.
Yes, Mr. Chair, it looks like Usec Cati knows. Your Honor, Mr. Chair, let me explain. Yung not allocable, yun po yung hindi naman part ng district allocation.
Ito po yung mga big ticket projects like foreign assisted na hindi naman po bumababa sa district. Maintenance fund, equipment fund, preliminary district engineering fund, right-of-way fund. Ayun pong district allocable, yun po yung based on... Well, a parametric formula that the Secretary Bonoan has instructed to prepare at least to determine more or less, ano po yung ceiling ng budget kada distrito, Your Honor, Mr. Chair? So, sa pagtingin ng district, halimbawa yung district engineer, yung sinasabing allocable, yung kanya na ibibid.
Tama po, Your Honor. Tapos yung non-allocable, madalas napupunta sa region o di kaya sa central office. Ganun na yun.
Your Honor, most probably Your Honor, yes. Hindi po part ng district office yung non-allocable. Okay, thank you.
Rep. Toby, siguro doon sa parada at saka sa gasa, doon sa parada malaman natin magkano yung parking fee siguro, para sa kaalaman din ng committee. Doon sa sagasa, ano kaya yung ginamit na pang sagasa, pison kaya o train o kung paano? Kasi kailangang malaman din natin.
Your Honor, I'm not part of the parking conversation, so I don't know... Yes, we know that. Maybe...
I don't know, I'm not part of the conversation. In your opinion, it will help to know how many parking fees there are. Because this is also a reference to our approach to the anomalous flood control projects. Your Honor, I'm sorry. It's maybe third-hand information.
Chismis, chismis, chismis. So I don't want to say chismis if... It's not the same thing that was predicted. The person who will tell me that it was predicted.
Thank you. Mr. Chair, I will just ask a question about the Bid Short of Award. Because I'm confused. I know that only projects that are included in the NEP can undergo pre-procurement. Why is it said that even the initiatives, insertions in the small committee and the BICAM also undergo pre-procurement bidding, short of award?
Isn't that forbidden? I thought it was just the NEP. Madam Chair, if I may?
Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. What is that?
It's in the rule of the New Government Procurement Act. What can be called early procurement, I don't know their term, short of award. What we have as a term is early procurement activities. What that means is, early procurement, is that different from pre-procurement? Yes, this is what can be bid when it comes to the National Expenditure Program.
But when it comes to BICAM and other things, it's not like that anymore because the numbers have changed. It's different. So that's what I'm asking. Yes, ma'am.
We're talking about the same thing. I think the term used by USEC, Cathy, is wrong. Earlier, the term used by USEC, it's not possible to pre-procurement or early procurement or bid short of award if it's not included in the NEP. Isn't that so? Yes, ma'am.
Section 21. The insertions, congressional initiatives, all of those, there's no pre-procurement. There's none. So there's no regulation on the contractor.
There's no payment or mobilization fund. Yes, ma'am. Early procurement, Section 21 of the New Government Procurement Act. Yes, ma'am. went through the Senate.
Thank you. I think that is very clear. It's in the new government procurement, RA 12009. Mr. Chair, point of order, Mr. Chair.
I just want to know what is the process of the other colleagues having their time questioning. Because if not, there's no one. Even if someone is asking, sorry, that's okay. Even if someone is asking, this is a long time ago. More than half an hour na siya, hindi pa siya nakapagsalita.
Siguro naman bigyan natin ng allocation each senators ng time limit, o 10 minutes, 10 minutes. Kasi kung hindi, kanya-kanya tayo, sabog-sabog tayo. Yun ang po yung aking pananaw, Mr. Chair. Okay, thank you very much for the point of order.
Any more member of the committee who wish to ask questions to Representative Toby? Di ba dapat first come, first serve, Mr. Chair? Yun nga po, kung merong gustong magtanong. We need to express ourselves.
Mr. Chair, right here. Senator Erwin. Yes, I have a couple of questions for Congressman Tobi. In our budget process, Mr. Chair, first are the committee amendments, and then individual amendments, and then next, supposedly, after the second reading approval, no more changes, is that right? Yes, Your Honor.
Can you state before this committee, Mr. Chair, what really happens in reality? Yung totoo. Bukang hindi naman po nasusunod ito.
What's going on? Para can you walk us through, para maintindihan po ng mga nandito, yung mga nanonood sa atin, what's going on? Kasi dito po mapasok yung mga insertion, nakatakot-takot, Mr. Chair.
Okay, Your Honor, una po tatanggapin po ng House of Representatives yung National Expenditure Program. That is the proposal of the budget of the Executive Branch. After that, there will be budget briefings and budget hearings.
In those budget briefings and budget hearings, Your Honor, the Cabinet Secretaries are the ones asked by the Congressmen. After that, it will go to the Plenary. and will acquire sponsorship and sponsor other... Mga authors, iba-ibang mga sponsor ng iba't-ibang department, doon po hindi na po pwede magsalita ang cabinet secretary, congressman na po.
Pagkatapos po, magde-debate, yan po yung sinasabi ni congressman ng ating chairman, na magde-debate po. Halos dalawang buwan po yan, inaabot ng gabi, magde-debate po. So, pag natapos po niyan, pag natapos yung debate, isasara po ang period of... Interpellation and debate. After that, the period of committee amendments will be opened.
The committee of amendments will say that. For example, the department, let's say the executive branch, they saw institutional amendments. That's what is said in the period of committee amendments. After the period of committee amendments is closed, the period of individual amendments will be opened. After the period of individual amendments is closed, the period of second reading and third reading will be opened.
That is normal for all laws. Now, when it comes to the budget, the process in the House of Representatives is different because what is always said there is that the time is short. So, pagkatapos po ng committee amendments, bubuksan po yung period of individual amendments.
Tapos po, magmomotion po ang majority leader, lagi, nasasabihin po na magpoform ng small committee to accept the individual amendments of the members after the approval of second reading. So, ang mangyayari po, We will approve it on second reading. And then, the small committee will live on to accept the individual amendments. And that's what the Honorable Chairman said. When we have a debate, here in the budget, there is a small committee that will accept it.
And it will make the decision. No one can do it. Because we are not together.
Your Honor. In that discussion, they will decide. Then when we return and see the printed copy, we can't do anything because in the third reading, the only thing left is the spelling, comma, period.
So you'll be surprised sometimes that this is added, this is reduced. It was not discussed in the plenary session, and that was the decision of the small committee. That's why I asked for the committee report of the small committee, which was not given. So, Mr. Chair, nothing can be done.
I mean, like a district congressman, he saw that his budget in his district has been reduced. Nothing can be done. He cannot complain.
Not for me, it seems that there was parking here, there was a crowd here. He can't do that, Mr. Chair? Wala na po.
Wala na po siyang magagawa. Kasi yun na po. Ang next chance po nun, eh sabay kam.
Diba po? Pero aminin natin, no? Kung wala namang kalukuhan yung project, Mr. Chair, sino namang congressman ang hindi magpapasalamat na dadagdagan yung distrito mo ng proyekto?
Hindi, ibig sabihin, for example, let's assume Let's assume there was no problem with the two districts of Mindoro. I'm sure the congressman is happy because he can tell the constituents, I did a lot, even if he didn't do it. That's why maybe there's a objection, because he didn't do it, and then he'll be fired. But in the normal course of things, who will object that your district will be added?
All of us congressmen want more projects in our place. Natural course of things. But before I proceed, Your Honor, because I'm speaking too loud, I'm the one who's being beaten up right now. So let me put on record that this is not the first time I questioned the budget process. You can just go and look at the archives.
In the year 2011, for the 2012 HGAB, I was also independent there. I questioned the budget process. In the year 2013, for the 2014 HGAB, I also questioned the budget process. In the year 2014, for the 2015 HGAB, if you remember, I was the one who requested a copy of the DAP, Development Assistance Program. That's why we fought in the plenary.
So those who are saying that I just questioned, I didn't question the budget. That's why I was tired because there was nothing to say. I was outvoted.
I just had hope after SONA because the President himself wanted budget reform, Your Honor. Rep. Toby, pagkatapos ng small committee, ito na yung basis ng HGAB na hindi na makikita ng ordinary congressman. Yun na sinasabi mo?
HGAB na po ang makikita nyo, HGAB na po ang makikita nyong kopya. Na hindi nagkaroon ng pagkakataon yung regular congressman na makialam doon sapagkat yun po ay tinrabaho na ng small committee. Yes, Your Honor. Thank you. Continue.
So, are we supposed to ask Congressman Toby before the regular process? In connection with the disclosure? Proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Congressman Toby, typically, the budget is certified as urgent. So, ina-approve on second reading and third reading in one sitting? Yes, Your Honor.
That was the basis of my objections earlier on, noong 2011, 2012, 2014. Eh hindi mo na mahibig sabihin pag sinertify urgent. What's happening, Your Honor? There's no more 3-day rule. There's no more 3-day rule, and you can't see it anymore. You approved, Your Honor, the third reading.
Tapos, tsaka mo makikita yung kopya ng H-Gov. Ang punta po, ganun ang practice, di ba? Every budget season, dahil certified as urgent, in one sitting, in one day, ina-approve yung budget on second and third reading in one day.
Yes, I don't know if all congresses that I attended, kasi nawalan na nga ako ng pag-asa noong after 2015, kasi kahit questioning ko bakit one day... I think in one budget season, they sent the copy, I don't know what year, but on the same day, since it's certified urgent, it will be approved. That's why I explained the vote, and it's in the records of the archives of Congress, Your Honor.
I said, how can you read that thick, or even look for it in one day? But I understand you. You're saying that...
Even after the approval on second reading, tapos ng period of amendments, di ba? Approval na on second reading, pwede pa mag-amend? Yes, Your Honor.
We approve on second reading, pero nagbigay kami po, before, Your Honor, before we approve on second reading, binigyan namin... ng authority, yung small committee, na palitan kung ano man yung in-approve on second reading. Pero pag in-approve on second reading, yun na yun eh.
Yun po yung point ko ever since, Your Honor. Ibig sabihin, pag sinabi ko yun na yun, from NEP all the way hanggang annexes, approved na yan. Lahat ng maliliit na project doon, approved na yan.
Your Honor, that was the basis of my questioning ever since. Kaya nga natapos na yung period of amendments. The period of amendments, that's where we'll amend all the line items. But after period of amendments, when we vote for the second reading, that's it. It's only for review.
It's a three-day rule for review. Yes, Your Honor, you're right. That's why only for the budget, only for the budget, that's what happens.
That's what I'm saying, Your Honor. It's like you gave a blank check to the four people who... before the plenary was approved.
So I said, Your Honor, how did the four people become more powerful than the plenary was approved, Your Honor? But for me, after the second reading... ...amending, that's not the usual practice. Because if you approve the second reading, the amendments are included. You're right, Your Honor.
That's why I said, in all the laws that are being passed, no touch after the second reading. The BICAM, because the small committee was given authority, that's it. So they can move after...
After BICAMP. But Your Honor, I got a commitment. Sec.
Mina was there on the first day. I got a commitment that they will not do it anymore at this time. I hope, second reading, pati na yung mga attachments, tapos na. I hope. Kaya nga sabi ko...
Dapat. Dapat ganun. Pati yung mga attachments, tapos na.
In other words, bago ma-transmit sa Senado, kasama na lahat ng mga attachments, pati yung mga projects. Yes, Your Honor. Kasi sabi ko nga...
Sabi ko nga... For the record, I will repeat, this is not the first time that I have commissioned the budget process. And I really lost hope that nothing will happen. That's why when I heard the sona, since this is the first time that the President, Your Honor, said that the budget process should be changed, there is hope that the system will be changed. Because, Your Honor, I am independent.
I am always out. So, I will just outvote, Your Honor. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For Governor DeLore not to be left behind, we talked about this in connection with the testimony in relation to Mindoro Oriental, since you are already there. What can you contribute to the committee that mentioned your province, Mindoro Oriental?
Mr. Chairman, good morning. I traveled seven hours from my province using the land trip, the Roro, and other land trips. The whole night traveling to the U.S. Before you continue, maybe you should bow first, Governor. We didn't bow to Rep. Toby because we have inter-parliamentary courtesy.
But you... If it's necessary. Mr. Chair, maybe you can also request the other resource persons to stand up and have their oath administered by the... in order for us to have not yet administered the there are have not been administered those who are here for the first time uh for those resource persons I will raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in this proceeding?
Thank you, Humayon. Thank you. Okay.
Now proceed, Governor. Mr. Chair, may I be permitted to present a very short presentation so that you will have a context of what truly happened in the province as a microcosm problem in the Philippines? May I have your permission?
Just a minute, Mr. Chair. Okay. If I may, Mr. Chair, if the slide is ready, because earlier it was not allowed. Mr. Chair, Mindoro Island is situated at the heart of the Philippines. And the first thing is, we are grateful.
I have four letters for you now. Four words. We are grateful, Mr. Chair, because in our small province, we were given this much. From 2022 to 2025, we were given a total from the NEP around 12 billion.
Pero nung lumabas na po sa GAA, 30 billion. Total insertion po is 17,820,439,000 as far as flood control projects are concerned, which are 25 million and above. Ulitin ko po, we did not include your other projects which do not include flood control.
Kaya lang po yung pagpapasalamat namin, sino po ba naman probinsang di magpapasalamat na ganong kadaming pera, napalitan po ito ng pangihinayang. Well, during the Senate hearing in the past, you were discussing about existence or non-existence of a National Flood Mitigation Master Plan. Oriental Mindoro has one. In 2019, we have a Regional Development Council-endorsed flood mitigation master plan, which is a product of several studies conducted by foreign bodies, even local experts, and the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro. It was duly signed and endorsed to DPWH in 2019. Kaya lang po, ang amount po niyan more or less is 12 billion to solve the totality of the problem of flooding.
We have already received more than 30 billion. So kung sinunod po yung flood mitigation master plan ng probinsa, more or less sana, solve na ang problema. Kaya lang po, tingnan niyo po yung nangyari, 2012, 2022, bahat, 2023, bahat, 2024, 2025, despite the presence of more than 30 billion.
billion flood control. Bakit po? This leads to the third P. Panlulumo.
Bakit po nakakapanlumo? Mr. Chair, simula pa lang po may mali na. Una, di akmang disenyo.
San po kayo nakakita ng flood control, pero dinisenyo ng DPWH na parang gumagawa ng boulevard. Ano po bang gustong gawin ng DPWH? Boulevard for tourism purpose?
or flood control. 20 meters na lapad na kalsada, tapos lalagyan ng konting simento sa kanan, konting simento sa kaliwa. As early as March 6, 2023, I called the attention of DPWH and all the contractors.
Pinatigil ko po yan one and a half months. Sabi ko po, you are doing something for my province, you didn't even consult us. Sabi nila, and drawing daw po, I did to solve the flooding.
I stopped it for one and a half months. And honestly, Mr. Chair, I told the contractors and the DPWH, if I die after this and I get killed, you are the ones who will kill me. Because we are talking here of 4 billion pesos in 2023. After that, it will be in 2024. Mr. Chair, Governor, who is the contractor? Pangalan po ng kontraktor, as early as 2023, ang tanda ko lang po ang isa, SunWest. 2025, Mr. Chair, ito na po yung nangyayari.
Baha, baha, baha. Sabi ko sa kanila, ang provincial government gumawa ng gabyo noong 2014. 40,600,000 meters existing hanggang ngayon. In the decade, 40 million, almost 1 kilometer. But it's existing. In the DPWH, I'll show you the difference later.
The second thing, the design is not bad. It's still overpriced. Let's go back.
Again, in the first interview of the DPWH, 1 billion per kilometer. That means 1 million per linear meter. Mr. Chair, this is how small it is. One million is the value. Second, they changed it in the next interview.
They made it 700 million per linear meter. Overpriced, substandard. This is the third problem. Look at what happened to the dikes in Oriental Mindoro.
The steel is smaller than my brain. Sa hinliliit, sabi niya, stain masonry, walang bakal, gumawa po ng dike, na yan po ang itsura ng pagkakasimento, ang gitna, puro lupa, puro buhangin. All projects, makikita niyo po. Labo-labong proyekto, different locations.
Paano po ang pinakahuling nagtuldok ng substandard design? Nakakuha po ako finally kagabi. ng isang disenyo, detailed engineering design, permado ng DPWH. Ang nakalagay po, Mr. Chair, ang dapat ibinabaon ng kontraktor, 12 linear meters po ang sheet piles.
Yan po'y permado nila. Pero kahapon lang po, bago ako pumunta ng Senado, ang actual po na sheet piles na ibinabaon, 3 meters. Yan po, maliwanag po. Kahapon lang po yan.
Paano po hindi magiging substandard? Eh bakit po nila napayag na gawa yan? Kasi ganito po oras nila ginagawa para maitago sa tao.
Gabi. Dari sa picture taken 10.40 in the evening na nagbabao ng shit piles. Is it, sir?
Bukod po dyan, meron pa po ngayong nawawalang proyekto. Sabi nila walang ghost. Ang alam ko po, pag ispesipik sa gaang sityo, ispesipik ang barangay, dapat ang project naroon sa sityo, nasa barangay. CTO D.K., Barangay Apitong Nauhan, Privileged Speech of Senator Ping, I can attest that in that barangay, there is no 189 million project that was constructed.
They said there was a construction in another barangay. How can we attest that it is when there are multiple titles with no specific barangays in CTO? And Mr. Chair?
Aside from the Ghost Project, we have a new term in Oriental Mindoro. Again, Mr. Chair, who is the contractor? Yes. Who is the contractor?
This is St. Timothy. Elite. St. Timothy.
This is elite. St. Timothy. This is St. Timothy.
This is Ghost. In the city of Dike, elite. Oh, this guy again?
And this is the next, the Manananggal Project. Why Manananggal? Because what is written in the contract is 325 meters. What they did in 2023 is 189, that's half of it. And now, when the issue broke, they're returning it.
So that it can be removed, they're returning half of the body. It's over. That's true.
Who's the contractor? St. Timothy. Mr. Chairman, why did this happen? This is the end.
Why did this happen? Kasi may kailangan pong itago. Bakit kailangan 20 meters na puro buhangin ang laman? Tinanong ko po si Director Pakanan ng DPWH. March 2023, July 2024, May 2025, June 2025, and July 2025, August 2025. Simple lang pong sinabi niya sa akin, Gov, maganda naman po sana yung disenyo.
Kaya lamang po. You know, there's a need to give 25% up. I repeat, this is what Director Gerald Pacanan said.
And there's 5% parking. He also said, I can attest to the truth. If it's true or not, he's not saying it. I am only stating what he told me, not once, not twice, not thrice, but several occasions.
Who are you talking to? Director Gerald Pacanan po, ng DPWH Region 4B. Is he here?
Is he here? Was he invited? Meron pa daw po, Mr. Chair, na 12% others.
So 25% taas, I do not know what does he mean of 25% sa taas. 5% parking fee, I am not familiar with parking fee. Basta yun lang po sinasabi niya.
12% others. So that's all. All in all, 42%. Ang nakalagay po sa Department Order 197, Series of 2016, pag 150 million patasan project, entitled ng contractor to 8%.
42% plus 8% is 50%. So, kalahati na lang po ang natin na, Mr. Chair. Bukod pa po ang taxes and everything. Plus, apat na beses na po kami nakahuli ng theft of minerals.
Ang ginagawa po ng kontratista, kumukuha ng quarry. Sa lugar na bawal, walang kwari permit, abo. Kaya po nag-i-scaling ang project. Di pa po nagbabayad ng kwari tax ng tama. Magkano pa po yun?
Kaya na, Mr. Chair, ang dulo po nito, ng huli kong slide, ang dala ko po dito'y pag-asa. Na sana sa pamamagitan po ng komiting ito at ng direktiba ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas, and with the assumption of Secretary Vince Dizon, matitigil na po ito. Secondly, na yung pong dapat proseso sa ilalim ng batas, that projects like this are consulted under Sections 25, 26, and 27 of the Local Government Code for the local halal and local sanggunia of each local government.
And the number one is that projects of this kind are passed through the approval of the Regional Development Council and whatever the local government units and the Regional Development Council endorsed, Sanep, at kung anuman po yun, at kung may pagbabago man, handa po ang mga lokal na pamahalaan na makipagtulungan sa pambansang pamahalaan para sa atin. Buwis po ito ng mamamayan. Buwis po ito ng bawat isa sa atin.
Maraming salamat po. Maraming salamat sa iyo, Governor Dolor. Mula sa iyong pangihinayang at panlulumo, ay nagkaroon ka pa ng pag-asa pala na nakikita sa ating bansa.
Rep. Toby? Yes, Your Honor. For the record, I will forward the file to Usec Cathy so that her staff can fill it up while the winnings continue the bidding. And Your Honor, can I make a request, Your Honor? Because since I started this, like last week, I was the one who targeted the people who were not true.
Your Honor, can you give me five to ten minutes just to show, to defend myself, Your Honor? Okay. Can I show the USB again?
Can you stop nothing? Can you assist Rep. Toby? To our honorable senators, I'm sorry. I will take... A little time, I just have to defend myself from the accusations.
This is referring to the press release conducted by Representative Alfredo Garbin? Yes, Your Honor, na yung ako Bicol, na ako daw ay nag-insert. First of all, hindi po ako makakapag-insert kasi nga hindi po ako member ng PICAM.
Paano ko makakapag-insert? So this presentation is actually to answer the press release? Yes, Your Honor.
Okay. Proceed. Tapos, pangalawa, sinasabi niya na doon sa, nadagdag sa BICAM, ay merong kasama doon sa mga top 15. So, ang ginawa ko po, nagtanong po ako sa DE, never, for the record, never ako nagtatanong sa DE kung sino nananalo sa project.
So, hindi ko alam kung sino nananalo. Then, nung dumabas yung top 15, that was the first time tinanong ko sa DE, bigyan mo ako ng listahan nung sa mga sino. So I have a list.
So I hope to give myself a defense. Proceed. Navotas. And they say that the flood control project in Navotas is always big. Your Honor, it's probably my fault if the flood control project in Navotas is not big and it's different because we're really being swept and we're below sea level.
What are we going to do, Your Honor? Okay, first slide. Next, please. For the record, transparent, I'm showing, I requested 1.26, wait, ha?
Ang request ko po, Governor, gagamitin ko lang po ulit yung salamin ko. Your Honor, for the record, I requested 1.269 billion na madagdag po sana sa aming NEP. Okay, next slide please.
Next slide. Yan po, 1.269 billion. Yan po.
Sinasabi po na in-insert ko daw yung 592 million. Hindi ko po in-insert yung 592 million. Yung 592 million, yan po ang na-approve.
Ah, 529, sorry. 529 million ang na-approve ng... That's what was approved by the BICAM.
It's there for transparency. You can see it's a proponent. That's the format. Proponent, Congressional District, Contractor.
Okay. And that's the status of the project. I did that at DE yesterday, Your Honor. So you can see that it says here at 529, there's a... St. Timothy at Sims.
That's what it says. You can see there in 529, there's no St. Timothy at Sims. Okay, next slide please. So I looked for where St. Timothy at Sims is. St. Timothy at Sims is located in NEP, not in BICAM.
Tapos, tinanong ko po doon sa DE kung ano po yung accomplishment for 2025 po to. Una-una, tinanong ko yung DE. DE, magsabi ka ng totoo, meron ba kayong tinatagong ghost project or substandard o ano?
Wala po. Okay. At siguro, doon sa mga nakakilala sa akin, medyo hindi ako magandang magsalita pag delayed yung project ng... ng kontraktor.
Siguro may takot ng konti. Sino yung DA, Rep. Toby? Okay, buti na tanong niyo po.
Ang DA ko po is si Magellan Arcega. For the record, hindi ko po pinili si Magellan Arcega. Siya po ay...
Assistant District Engineer. Nag-retire po yung District Engineer, siya po ang naging District Engineer. Yung nag-retire na District Engineer, hindi ko rin po pinili.
Siya rin po ang Assistant District Engineer, so siya po ang naging District Engineer. So hindi po ako namimili ng District Engineer. Okay, so tinanong ko, for example, yung St. Timothy.
or yung previous years 2024 ano yung status ng project sabi niya wala pong problema sir so hiningi ko ito out of the NEP okay itong construction of Australia pumping station 65 million the reason suspended siya sabi ko bakit suspended kasi daw hindi pinayagan ng barangay captain ituloy I asked why. I said, why didn't you tell me? Sir, I told the city engineering office. Why didn't the barangay captain allow it?
Because the barangay captain wanted it. The intention of the barangay captain is good. That's why it's not in the program of works. So what the barangay captain wanted was, because it's a pumping station, it's a structure, it's like a building, he wanted to put a senior citizen center upstairs, which is not in the program of works. So the intention is good.
So he wanted to maximize it. So kaya lang, medyo ano... hindi naman nagpaalam sa akin, pinahitupo ng barangay captain.
Noon ko lang nalaman. Okay? So, next.
Construction of Estrella Pumping Station, Phase 2. Kaya po suspended yan. Hindi po magagawa yung Phase 1 kung hindi po tapos yung... Hindi pa gagawa yung Phase 2 kung hindi tapos yung Phase 1. Kasi yung Phase 1 is the structure.
Phase 2 are the two 1 cubic meter per second pumps with generator. So, of course, the Phase 1, dahil pinahintungan ng masigasig kumbarang kay Captain, hindi po magawa yung Phase 2. Next, meron siyang si St. Timothy, may construction, completion of bridge, North Bay Boulevard South. Suspended kasi po yung first phase, hindi pa tapos, yung 2024. Pero hindi naman daw po nila kontrata yung... First phase.
So, ibig sabihin, kaya hindi mo magagawa yung second phase. Your Honor, nandyan po si St. Timothy. Pwede nyo pong tanungin kung nagkakilala na kami or ano. Oh, Ms. Rimando.
Are you through? Okay, next po. So, hinanap ko rin si Sims. S-Y-M-S.
Kung ano po yung status ng, yan. Si Sims, construction of flood mitigation structure along Marala River. ongoing 88.2 percent so So it can go there.
So it means that they attribute that if they have problem with the project in other places, what I'm saying is in the vote, according to our district engineer, there's none. So don't let them out in the stories. I have knowledge about inserting.
I don't have any. I'm not a member of the BICAM. I have knowledge, Your Honor, about choosing a contractor.
I don't know those. They have problems in other places. It's possible. Where it's voted, it's not there.
Next, Your Honor. Interjection, Mr. Chair. How many minutes left for us to finish? Follow-up question to Rep. Chanko, Mr. Chair.
Who? To Rep. Chanko. Follow-up question, Mr. Chair. Okay. Yes, Your Honor.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Rep. Chanko, I also saw that there is a project that the contractor, Alpha and Omega, how is their performance there? Let's look at it. From me, can you move back?
There, look for Alpha and Omega. uh alpha and omega i own alpha and omega um construction of pumping station barangay tanzana votas actual accomplishment 15.95 suspended due to revocation of pickup license of alpha and omega So, the performance is still low, but there is another factor, the suspension. Ma'am, I don't know when the notice of award will be.
So, it would be interesting, maybe, to the Rep. Chanko Committee, at least within the period before they revoked their contract or their license, how they performed. Even if the committee can only be updated later on through the chair. Yes, Your Honor.
But our district engineer can probably answer that. But that's probably one thing that the committee should look at. ng komite. Dahil minsan po, Work suspension is sometimes the longest time given, right? I don't know about this, but I saw a project in Novotas, World Bank funded.
UPMO implemented, we complained because it takes longer, I don't remember who the contractor is, it takes longer to work suspension than the original contract duration. Mr. Chair, if the district engineer of Navotas City is here, maybe they can quickly add Rep. Chango's statement that the actual accomplishment of almost 16% is within an extended period or short, Mr. Chair. Noted. Rep. Chanko. Your Honor, I don't know.
I know my district engineer is here. Are they here, Mr. Chair? I don't think they're invited. We did not anticipate this.
Okay, Your Honor. Next. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Next. Okay.
Your Honor, I'm just showing here. If I know how to ask for an extra, I also know how to say that the project is not needed. Katulad din to, noong 2023, for the 2024 budget, meron 299,746 na proyekto ng flood control sa Nabotas. Sabi ko, bakit ninyo pupondohan, eh wala pa yung feasibility study.
So kung marunong po akong manghini ng extra, pag hindi naman po kailangan, ako mismo rin sumusulat na hindi po kailangan yan. Next slide. Next slide. Makikita yun. Yan po yung reason.
Sinabi ko... Next slide, please. Next slide, please. The rehabilitation of the pumping station has been fully funded. There are three pumping stations there.
One was done, and they want to do the second and third. I said it's not necessary because that's not the problem. The main problem is the siltation, which damages the navigational gate, and the elevation of the navigational gate, which is overtopped by high tide.
It's hit. But there is no study and design yet up to now. Therefore, the project cannot be implemented. So marunong din po ako magsabi na hindi po kailangan yung proyekto.
Okay, next slide please. Yan po, pinakita ko lang yung pictures na naka-attach. Hindi problema yung pumping station, pero umaapaw na po yung tubig doon sa navigational gate. Tapos minsan, nakikwestiyon ako, bakit malaking pondo sa Navotas? Kasi po itong navigational gate, pagsirayan, pati malabon, baha.
Nagkataon lang na nasa Navotas siya, siyempre, papasok po yun doon sa... Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please.
Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please.
Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please.
Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please.
Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please.
Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Next slide, please.
Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Ito po, kung pinipintasan po yung mga dyke, ito po, papakita ko yung sa amin, binanggabangga ng mga balko.
Makikita niyo po. Pwede po i-play. May pang-play po dyan sa baba.
May mape-play yan sa baba. Paki, ano. No, in the middle.
A little lower. A little lower. There, there, there. Play it.
There, right? Our dike is being abandoned. There, that's how big the dike is.
So if they're saying, don't bother us with the substandard, under-designed, because you'll see, there, our dike is abandoned. Is that still alive? Yes, Your Honor. Yes, Your Honor. Then our problem is this 3.6-kilometer dike.
15 years before it's finished. Because I will give a little money. So why is there a question, why does every year there is money? 15 years.
The first time there was money there, when I was congressman, that's it, my boat was being towed. You will see the whole ground moving, but Ryan Dyke didn't. Next slide, please.
That's all my boat. There, you can see. That's my big boat. A netizen said, it's good that the dikes were built, even if it's my boat, it doesn't change. Okay, next slide please.
No, that's okay. There, that's another boat. Play it. The land is getting wet. Yan, ilang barko bumabanga.
Yan lang lang na nasisira. Pero yung pundasyon, sheet pile, hindi tumutumba. Next slide. Yan, makikita nyo.
Talagang umuuga. Kung makikita nyo yung sound dyan, makikita nyo, boom, gumaganon eh. Pakiplay. May video. Yan, ganyan kalalaking barko.
There. Thank you for your presentation. Sir, sir.
You made your point already. Sir, three slides na lang po. Three slides.
Pasensya na po, Your Honor. Okay, next slide. Next slide. Sige, pareho lang yan.
Next slide. Ganyan, ganyan kalalaki alon. Yan po yung dike namin. Pakiplay. So yan, sasamahan ng...
Yes, sasamahan pa po ng babanggain ng barko. So sabihin lang bakit every year humihingi po kami. Nung wala po yung dike, 1,500 families, 1,500 structures ang nasira dyan, nasira, at nasa evacuation center sila ng isang taon.
So ganyan ka-importante po. Pinapakita ko pa lang po. Yan.
So that's all, Your Honor. At kung meron silang question, ako po ay nagsabi na publicly na pag-ayos na po yung Independent Commission, voluntary. that are willing to vote, that will be the first to be audited. I just don't want it to be in our tricom in the House because the fight there is not legal.
Thank you. And you gave the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. That's all, Mr. Chairman. You made your point.
Who among our colleagues would like to ask Rep. Toby because I know he needs to return to the House of Representatives? Maybe, Mr. Chair. Senator Batu, please. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Just one question to Honorable Toby Tsianko. Sir, the insertion of around 17 billion for the GAAA 2025, have you also looked at the GAAA of 2024, GAAA of 2023, wherein the Congressman, I still support the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and they also do the insertions. Did you hear that, sir? Your Honor, I'm sorry. No, for two reasons.
Number one. Di ba po, kaya naman nauna yung 2025 kasi it has been described as pinakapangit, pinaka-corrupt na budget. Kaya yung po yung nauna. Number two, hindi ko naman po masisilip yan kung hindi po ako binigyan ng authority na hingin yung records.
Kaya ko lang po nakuha yung records kasi po pagkatapos po ng meeting... I need to call Congressman J.J. Suarez and ask for his records. If not, they will not give them.
If you will look at the record, I have authority to ask for it three times before giving the entire record, Your Honor. I'm sorry, Your Honor. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That will be all. Any more from the members? I would like to ask Rep. Toby. If there is no more, Rep. Toby, thank you for your time.
And you can now be excused. Yes, Your Honor, I'm not in a hurry. I might not be able to get in there. Who are our colleagues?
Maybe someone wants to ask Governor Dolor. Governor, thank you for your time. I know that you have a lot of worries, as you said, that you're still going to your family. But it's good that you're still holding on to your hope.
And I know that if you can come here, you also want to fix the many mistakes that are happening in your province. Who wants to ask Gov. Dolor if there are... Mr. Chair, I have no questions for Governor Bonds.
Maybe we should start asking our various resource persons here. Because we already spent two hours listening to the testimony of Congressman Toby and Governor Bonds. Okay, if none of them have any questions, I would like to tell you now...
We have a resource person here who has already given his sworn statement. because they think it's easy to help our government in our search. Your excuse, Rep. Toby. You will remember, in the last hearing, this committee floated the idea of giving the contractors, particularly, an option to take advantage of the state.
Witness Protection Law, sapagkat napakalaki po ng problema ang kinakaharap ng bansa natin, particular na po dito sa mga flood control projects na talaga namang nakapagbigay ng alalahanin. Hindi lamang alalahanin, kundi galit sa ating mamamayan. Meron pong nagkusang loob na gustong magbigay na ng kanilang sworn statement at kinakailangan pong ipresentan natin sila.
May I call on Mrs. Sarah Diskaya to please present and read before us your sworn statement. Sorry. Kagalang-galang na senators at miembro ng Blue Ribbon Committee, lalong-lalong na kay Senator Rodante Marcoleta, chairman ng Blue Ribbon Committee.
Ano to, joint statement ng namin mag-asawa, so I will read partial and then my husband will also read the other half of the sworn statement. We are Pacifico F. Diskaya II and Cezara Rowena Diskaya, married at the same age, both Filipinos. Number one, in 2003, we married and built the company we named St. Gerard Construction.
We registered it in the DTI, got a contractor's license, and started working on private construction projects. Number two, we also started working on government projects. We discovered that working on government projects was not easy.
It's often difficult to pay the bills and it takes a long time before we can pay the government. Number four, until the time came, a friend of mine, Voltaire Claveria, came to us and we agreed to have a project at the national level using our license. Number five, he introduced himself. na nagtatrabaho para sa isang congressman, at nangakong kapag nagbigay kami ng pera, ay makakakuha kami ng proyekto. Dahil wala kaming alam sa kalakaran sa pambansang proyekto sa gobyerno, nagtiwala kami at ibinigay ang lahat ng ipon naming mag-asawa.
Sa kasamaang palad, niloko lang niya kami. Naglaho siya, dala ang pera namin mag-asawa. Nagpunta kami sa DPWH para i-report ang nangyari, pero hindi nila ito pinansin.
Kahit ganon, hindi kami sumuko. Gusto ko pa rin gawin ng tama ang negosyo, kaya patuloy kaming sumasali sa mga biddings sa gobyerno. At the time, our company won bids for projects in the national government through legal bids. We did everything we could to show our company's ability to do good, have good results, and finish on time. St. Gerard Construction was a little successful.
So we are glad to have a husband who will expand and build other companies like Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation. Interjection, Mr. Chair. What is the interjection? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just need to go to the office for a moment for a moment, but hopefully when I come back, I'll still be here. Mr. and Ms. Diskaya, dahil meron din po akong mga tanong para sa kanila. Oh yes, we'll make sure that they will be here for your questioning.
Mr. Chair. Yes. Why don't they just give us a copy of the sworn affidavit instead of reading it?
So we can... We can... So we can...
We can... We'll make sure that all the members will be given a copy. But the chairman is asking them to read it before us for the record. In order to save time, Mr. President, because we...
We have been here since 9 o'clock. We already spent two hours and not even one of the senators have asked questions addressed to the resource person's president. I beg the indulgence of the good senator, but it is for the record.
This is a sworn statement, and from this statement, they need to be asked here properly. Proceed. Please speed up so we can save time.
When St. Gerard Construction was first introduced, a new challenge arose. Gradually, district engineers and regional directors of DPWH and chiefs of staff of Mambabatas who are developing projects that they call PONDO of Mambabatas. At first, we tried to fight these people through reporting to DPWH and reporting to the government.
But they did not listen to these people. They said we should accept the reality that we should pay the children if we want to continue to have projects in the government. If not, they are warning that our company will be removed from the list and we will not be able to get any project. We did not want to be included in this system, but we need to continue for our family and employees.
Because of our fight against the illegal bidding, we have experienced many times that the Bids and Awards Committee of DPWH is disqualified, and that the people who are in charge of the project are held responsible. Because our business is already being shut down, we are already sinking in the company's large debt and the danger to the life of our family. We have been replaced by the people of Calacaran.
Even if it's against our will. Good morning, Mr. Chair and fellow Senators and members of the Blue Ribbon Committee, especially Senator Rodante Marconeta. Go ahead. Number 15. Sorry.
After we won the bidding, there are officials from DPWS who approached us to ask and get their share of the project's value. The percentage they are asking for will not drop to 10% and reach 25% which became a condition to not reduce the implementation of the contract. We are giving them cash.
Each transaction has a voucher and ledger that will be issued in a few days and when they will receive it. How many of them are in? Terrence Calatrava, former Undersecretary of Office of the Presidential Assistant of the Visayas of the Philippines.
Kong Roman Romulo of Pasig City. Kong Jojo Ang of Uswag Ilongo Partylist. Congressman Patrick Michael Vargas of Quezon City. Kong Juan Carlos Arjo Aitayde of Quezon City.
Nicanor Nikki Biriones of Aga Partylist. Congressman Marcelino Marci Teodoro of Marikina. Congressman Florida Robes of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
Congressman Eliandro Jesus Madronio of Romblon. Congressman Benjamin Benji Agarau, Jr. Congressman Florencio Gabriel Bemnuel of Anuari Partylist. Cong Leode Ode Tariela of Occidental Mindoro, Congressman Reinante, Reynan Arogancia of Quezon Province, Cong Marvin Rillo of Quezon City, Cong Teodoro Jaresco of Aklan, Cong Antonieta Yudela of Zamboanga, Cebu, Cong Dean Asisio of Caloocan, Cong Marivic Copilar of Quezon City. 21. Mayron ding mga kinaatawan ng ilang politiko na nakikipagtagpo sa amin upang mangingi ng porsyento kapalit ng mga porsyento ng mga proyekto.
Ang mga porsyentong ito ay 25% ay ipinipilit sa amin bilang karaniwang kalakaran na wala akong kakainang tanggihan. Ilan sa kanila ay sina. Rinal Director Eduardo Virgilio of DPWS Region 5. Director Ramon Ariol III of Unified Management, UPMO. District Engineer Henry Alcantara, DPWS Bulacan I. Undersecretary Robert Bernardo. District Engineer Aristotle Ramos of DPWS Metro First, Pasig City.
District Engineer Manny Bulusan of DPWS North, Manila, Deo. District Engineer Edgardo C. Pingol of DPWS Bulacan, Sabdeo. District Engineer Michael Rosaria of DPWH, Quezon Secondeo.
Karimean sa mga kawanin ng DPWH na nabanggit sa itaas, ay paulit-ulit na binabanggit ang delivery ng pera ay para sa kaisalde ko na dapat at least 25%. Si Kong Marvin Rillo naman ay ilang beses na binabanggit ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez bilang kanyang malapit na kaibigan. 25. Sa tuwing ang minom kami sa Wine Story, sa BGC, at El Chachantila Mall, sinasabi ni Kong Rillo na lahat ng kanyang request para sa pondo ay galing pa mismo sa unprogrammed funds at insertion na inaaprobahan ni Speaker. Ang tao ni Marvin Rillo na si Bogs Magalong ang pumupunta sa amin para kunin ang pera sa aming opisina o sa Wine Story. Si Kong Jojo ang naman lagi ring binabanggit sa lahat ng projects sa kanya ay papondo ni Speaker at ni Saldeco.
The project is demanding a lot. It's not all money for him, but for the speaker and for my salary. In the area of Pasig, The DPP's project engineer, Angelita Garucha, approached me to collect the part of Kong Roman Romulo in the flood control projects of 2022. When 2025 came, District Engineer Aristotle Ramos was the next to introduce the bagman of Kong Roman Romulo, where 30% of his...