Villanueva questions 1,257% hike in DPWH’s feasibility studies budget

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Tuesday questioned the 1,257 percent increase in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) allocation for feasibility studies next fiscal year. 

A quick look into the DPWH’s proposed P822.200 billion allocation for next year shows that at least P15.912 billion would go to the agency’s feasibility studies. 

This proposed appropriation is 1,257 percent higher than the DWPH’s allocation for the same item in 2023. 

But this did not sit well with Villanueva, who asked for an explanation from DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

“We needed this amount for project preparations and preliminary engineering activities. Before we actually start the project, we need to implement field validation. We call this pre feasibility study or preliminary or detailed engineering design,” said Bonoan. 

The proposed allocation, if approved, will be distributed in all regions across the country, Bonoan said.

Later in the hearing, Villanueva asked Bonoan if a portion of the proposed P15.912 billion for  feasibility studies would be allotted to study the effects of reclamation.

“Hindi po, I can’t recall.” (No, Sir. I can’t recall),’ Bonoan replied.

Villanueva earlier aired out his frustration over the reclamation projects in Manila Bay. 

The senator, a Bulacan native, claimed that reclamation projects are among the factors that caused massive and incessant flooding in vulnerable areas like his hometown province.

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