A legislative measure aimed at strengthening the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is being proposed at the Senate through the creation of the Independent People’s Commission (IPC), with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. highly encouraged to certify it as urgent.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan urged President Marcos to support Senate Bill No. 1215, which will institutionalize the IPC to investigate anomalies in all government infrastructure projects amid the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal.
SB 1215 or the Infrastructure Anomalies Investigation Bill is co-authored by Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III with Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros and acting Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Erwin Tulfo.
“We are requesting the President to certify as urgent this proposed legislation,” Pangilinan said in his opening statement during the October 22 Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights’ hearing, which ICI Chairman Andres Reyes, Jr. and Commissioner Rogelio Singson attended.
Pangilinan, chairperson of the said committee, noted that the IPC will be a permanent and non-partisan body that will focus on investigating anomalies in the government’s infrastructure projects.
“If this commission is enacted into law, it will be stronger and more independent than the current ICI established under an executive order. Senate Bill No. 1215 grants the IPC statutory permanence, full independence, and guaranteed transparency and fiscal autonomy,” he said in Tagalog.
Pangilinan explained that the proposed measure was designed to strengthen the Commission’s powers, structure, and funding that will protect it from being politicized.
The IPC will also cover all types of national and local government infrastructure projects, including those in education, agriculture, flood control, disaster resilience, and many others.
Under the proposal, the IPC shall submit its final report to the President and Congress within 30 days from the termination of its investigation. The report shall then be made public immediately after its submission.
“Because truth delayed is justice denied,” Pangilinan pointed out.
President Marcos established the ICI by virtue of Executive Order No. 94 to uncover and recommend possible cases stemming from the alleged ghost and substandard infrastructure projects, which he exposed during his 2025 State of the Nation Address.
The fact-finding body’s investigation is ongoing, but it has faced serious political pressure and criticisms from various camps over how it was conducting its proceedings, thereby challenging its independent nature.
