Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to ensure that all infrastructure projects are coordinated with local government units concerned to help combat corruption and ensure such projects are responsive to the needs of constituents.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Gatchalian emphasized that all project proposals for funding in the 2027 budget must be properly vetted and coordinated with LGUs.

“Maraming cases ngayon na ‘yung mga projects bigla na lang sumusulpot sa kanilang lugar pero hindi alam ng mga LGUs,” the senator pointed out, citing a multi-billion peso-flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro that local executives were kept unaware of.

He said LGUs should be consulted even before a project is included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the executive branch’s detailed spending plan.

He noted that projects endorsed by regional development councils (RDCs) under the Department of Economic Planning and Development (DepDev) account for only about 35% of projects included in the NEP.

“We have to avoid uncoordinated projects; the best scenario is that these projects are approved by the RDCs,” Gatchalian added. 

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS GATCHALIAN