LARGER infrastructure allocations require justification through local needs and projects delivered properly, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Thursday when asked about the increase in the proposed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) funding associated with Ilocos Norte’s 1st District.
The question concerned the district represented by Majority Leader, Rep. Sandro Marcos, and BetterGov’s comparison of the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) with the House budget proposal.
Reports said the associated project allocation rose from P369 million to about P4.74 billion, an increase of approximately P4.38 billion.
Those are proposed project allocations mapped to a DPWH office, not funds personally received by a lawmaker.
Alonto Adiong answered in terms of community needs, project quality and continuity of work.
“What is important is tama po, accurate yung paglalagyan based on the needs of the area, the constituency and what is important it should be implemented well,” he said at the October 29 briefing.
He said the measure of spending should include whether the intended projects existed and met quality requirements.
“And what is ultimately important as well is that these projects are implemented 100% effectively. At hindi po ghost at hindi po substandard,” Alonto Adiong said.
The Lanao del Sur 1st District representative also argued some allocations cover work requiring funding across several years.
Existing expenditure, he said, would be wasted if an ongoing project lost the support needed for completion.
“So I think it’s just a matter of justifying it and making sure the public understands that what is important if these projects are multi-year, it should be continuously funded by the government kasi multi-year yan,” he said.
His defense of larger allocations was conditional on actual needs and proper delivery.
He did not present a project-by-project assessment of the Ilocos Norte entries raised in the question.
“If these projects are well-implemented and if it’s well-implemented, I don’t see any problem with a certain district getting much of the allocation,” he said.
Alonto Adiong said districts faced different demands, including infrastructure affected by local geography and projects requiring continued investment.
“Magkakaiba po ang pangangailangan ng mga distrito, at magkakaiba rin po ang din na pondo ng mga distrito. Kasi depende po yan sa pangangailangan ng distrito na yan,” he said.
He separately cited the Marawi Compensation Board’s funding needs as a reason he wanted a possible realignment during bicameral budget discussions.
He announced no amount for such a realignment at the briefing.
metrosundaily
