Senators question DILG’s P1.5B budget for potable water supply

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Monday questioned the proposed P1.5 billion budget next year of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for potable water supply in waterless areas in the country.

It was Senator Panfilo Lacson who pointed out during the budget deliberations of the Senate finance committee about the DILG’s budget for the water supply.

“Kasama ba ito sa mandate (ng DILG)?” Lacson asked DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, who was defending the agency’s budget.

Robredo explained that the budget was originally under the office of the Local Water Utilities Administration, which was later transferred to the Department of the Health, and to the DILG.

“Last year, the waterless town funding was with the DOH and the DOH feels that it’s better implemented by the LGUs (local government units)…They agreed to transfer it to the DILG,” he said.

“But isn’t it the expertise is in the LUWA, not in the LGU?” Senator Franklin Drilon asked.

“If you said it’s originally with LUWA, we can understand the reallocation to the DOH and now to the DILG because of the chairman before who bought (a bank) and (invested) several millions of LUWA funds. But the chairman is no longer there. So why don’t we follow the mandate of the agencies rather than the personalities involved?” he further asked.

Drilon was referring to former LUWA chairman Prospero Pichay, who was placed under preventive suspension for his alleged questionable purchase of 60 percent outstanding capital stock of the Express Savings Bank, Inc. (ESBI).

But Robredo explained that LGUs were doing capacity building to perform the task.

“What capacities are required by the LGUs so that they can have a water system in their jurisdiction. Ano ang kelagang ituro sa mga local officials para magkaroon sila ng local system sa kanilang lugar?” asked Senator Ferdinando “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr.

Drilon agreed, saying there was no need to spend again for the training of people when the expertise can already be found in LUWA.

“Why are we again allocating so much funds, and again train the LGUs where the capacity is already found in another agency?” Drilon further asked.