THE Office of the President has authorized the allocation of over P41 million for Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)’s budget until the year’s end, ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said on Wednesday.
According to Hosaka, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has also approved 172 contractual positions for the ICI workforce.
“These approvals will definitely enable the commission to now efficiently and effectively carry out its core mandate and functions under Executive Order No. 94. The approved budget up to the end of 2025 is P41, 481,000; this is chargeable to the contingent fund. The approved budget is for the operational expense and capital outlay needed by the commission,” he said in a press briefing at the ICI.
“In any agency, funding is very important and very crucial for our efficiency and for us to be able to work and meet the operational requirement and, at the same time, comply with what we are asked under Executive Order 94,” he added.
Hosaka indicated that the funds would finance the hiring of personnel for the legal department, special investigation office, and administrative and support staff in the offices of the chairman and commissioners, among others.
“Currently, most of our lawyers are detailed to us from other government agencies, but with the approval of this staffing pattern and the budget, which we hope will be allocated to the commission soon, we will be able to accommodate our organic staff, which will include lawyers, accountants, and engineers as well,” he explained.
“Of course our priority would be our personnel service expenses; kailangan natin magpasweldo ng mga tao natin (We need to pay our people). That would be one of our priorities, and of course, our equipment to be able to work efficiently and be able to work fast,” he added.
The allotment will also cover the costs associated with acquiring essential equipment for the upcoming live-streaming of the commission’s proceedings.
The ICI is developing the guidelines for the live-streaming of hearings related to the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in government flood control and infrastructure projects that involve lawmakers, public works officials, and private contractors.
“Having the approval of the staffing pattern and at the same time the budget would be the initial phase. Of course, the next would be for us to be able to, in a way, get the staff that we need,” said Osaka.
Earlier last month, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) deputized eight lawyers to support the ICI during its transitional phase. The PAO reiterated its strong support for the ICI’s objectives, emphasizing that a transparent and responsive infrastructure framework is “essential for nation-building and the advancement of social justice.”
The ICI is the sixth government entity to undertake parallel investigations into the issues surrounding the flood infrastructure contracts, following independent inquiries by the Commission on Audit, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
