Senate President Francis Escudero suspended the construction of the new Senate Building in Taguig, and ordered a review of the project.
Escudero voiced his surprise on Monday, June 10, after learning that the cost of the project ballooned from the initial Php 8.9 billion to Php 23 billion.
"Wala akong nakitang irregularity. Nagulat lang ako sa halaga. Hindi ba nakakagulantang ang Php 13 billion? Mas nakakagulantang ang Php 23 billion para sa isang opisina lang," Escudero told reporters after the flag ceremony in the Senate
"Yung unang inaprubahan na budget ay Php 8.9 billion. Hindi namin alam kung bakit ito lumobo, nung una ay (Php 13 billion), tapos ngayon ay (Php 23 billion)," the Senate President added.
Escudero revealed that he received a report and recommendations from Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano regarding the escalating costs, quality issues, and management inefficiencies surrounding the New Senate Building project.
The report, which Escudero received last Friday, June 7, highlighted several critical issues including the projected increase in the budget of the project.
The Senate President said that he already gave specific instructions to Cayetano, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Accounts, which oversees the quality and timeliness of the project as well as the smooth transfer to the new building.
Escudero agrees with all the recommendations of Cayetano, including identifying immediate and underlying problems in the project and compelling the Department of Public Works and Highways to question, evaluate, and rectify issues that can still be corrected.
Due to the suspension, Escudero admitted that the Senate cannot transfer to the new building by September as initially planned.
"Baka umaas sila na ngayong taon o next year ay magagawa na iyan, dahil dito maaring maantala pa ng ilang buwan yung supposedly paglilipat," Escudero stressed.
