House leader eyeing probe into gov’t transfer of P10.3-B ‘savings’ to DPWH

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is eyeing a possible inquiry into the P10.3 billion government “savings” supposedly meant for pandemic response but were instead used to fund infrastructure projects.

Rodriguez is referring to the reported P10.3 billion “savings” from discontinued projects which were supposedly for COVID-19 response but were instead transferred to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) whoch was questioned by former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.

“Once I get all these facts, I will file a resolution. We’re still facing the pandemic, and savings ‘wag nating ilagay sa infra. Ang kailangan natin ay more of the medical supplies, testing kits, face shields, face masks, PPEs,” Rodriguez said in an interview with Teleradyo on Tuesday.

(We are still facing a pandemic so let’s not put our savings to infrastructure. What we need are more medical supplies, testing kits, face shields, face masks, PPEs.)

“Prioritization should be done, [we should] give that, all the savings that we have to pandemic response,” he added.

Rodriguez added that these funds could have been used to provide cash aid for Filipinos or procure necessary supplies in the country’s fight against the pandemic.

“Kung may mga savings man ang mga department, we should be able to get funds to give ayuda that is given during ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) and MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine), ‘yung mga kailangang supply for frontliners,” Rodriguez said.

(If departments have savings, we should be able to give cash aid during ECQ and MECQ, fund the necessary supplies for our frontliners.)

“Kung may savings, wag nating ilagay sa infrastructure, that can wait (If we have savings, let’s not put that to infrastructure, that can wait),” he added.

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