Lacson defends plan to spend billions on new Senate HQ

Sen. Panfilo Lacson INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday took exception to insinuations that the winning design for the new Senate building to be built at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City in 2021 was far too opulent and would cost the government a whopping P10 billion.

He said the primary reason the Senate was moving out was the “subpar” space it was renting inside the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) complex on Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

Lacson, chair of the Senate accounts committee, said the American engineering and architectural firm, AECOM, which won the design contest, had submitted the lowest bid of less than P5 billion.

P127-M a year

AECOM defeated five other design firms after presenting plans and drawings for a sleek ultramodern complex with four interconnected buildings shaped like the rays of a sun with the session hall at the center.

In a statement, Lacson said the Senate pays P127 million a year for a “subpar legislative building” at the GSIS.

He said for the past 18 years, several attempts had been made to find a permanent home for the Senate.

“It’s only now that it could happen,” Lacson said. “I am one who makes sure to accomplish a task assigned to me.”