Manila: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson banks on the newly created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to help address corruption, citing the integrity of its chairman, former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. “I had the chance of meeting him while he was still with the Supreme Court. He has integrity,” Lacson said in a statement Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Commission has former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV and Co. executive Rossana Fajardo as members, and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as special adviser. Its operational funds this year will be provided by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), while those in the succeeding years will be included in the national budget.
Lacson expressed optimism on the expansion of the Commission’s coverage from just flood control projects to all infrastructure projects. He hopes that a similar expansion will be done for the Sumbong sa Pangulo website. “We are hopeful that they can help bring justice to a nation ‘drowning’ in corruption, no thanks to the insatiably greedy government officials, mostly from the legislative and executive branches,” Lacson stated.