Manila: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is advocating for measures to prevent irregularities in the construction of classrooms and school buildings, emphasizing the need for safeguards in the process. During his interpellation of Senate Bill (SB) 1482, Lacson expressed concerns about the potential for another "pork barrel scam" due to the significant involvement of non-government organizations (NGOs) in these projects.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lacson highlighted the conflict of interest that could arise if NGOs actively participate in bidding and monitoring processes. The "pork barrel scam," which came to light in 2010, involved the misuse of fake NGOs to embezzle billions of pesos from public funds. SB 1482, introduced by Senator Bam Aquino and known as the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act, aims to alleviate the classroom shortage in the country by allowing local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to undertake construction projects.
Lacson pointed out the issues regarding the extent of NGO and CSO participation that need clarification. He suggested including a provision that ensures NGOs do not monitor themselves to prevent conflicts of interest. Under Republic Act 12009 or the Government Procurement Act of 2024, participation of NGOs and CSOs in procurement is limited to avoid such conflicts.
Lacson referenced Janet Lim Napoles, a businesswoman convicted in connection with the "pork barrel scam," cautioning against a similar situation if definitions of NGOs and CSOs are interchanged. Despite his concerns, Lacson expressed support for the involvement of NGOs in the government's school building program and backed the initiative to expedite classroom construction.
Senator Aquino, advocating for his bill, stressed that only LGUs and CSOs with proven track records would be authorized to construct classrooms using national government funds, adhering to the Department of Education's (DepEd) standards and guidelines. He noted that previously, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was responsible for classroom construction, resulting in only 60 classrooms being completed this year. Aquino emphasized the necessity of exploring different modalities, including public-private partnerships, under SB 1482, while ensuring the DPWH's continued involvement in the process.
