The now controversial construction of the new Senate building is driving a wedge between the members of the Lower and Upper House just as leaders from both sides have vowed to work together.
House representatives have strongly responded to recent statements made by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III regarding the controversial new Senate building project, saying the senator was diverting the issue.
“Almost everybody is in praise of Senate President Chiz Escudero’s decision to suspend construction of the new Senate building pending comprehensive review.
All except Senator Pimentel who, last we heard, was still the Minority Leader. What gives?” House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun said.
“Instead of hitting us, congressmen, the good Senate Minority Leader should welcome our move to applaud the decision of the new Senate leadership to uphold the principles of good governance.
“We really don’t understand why Senator Pimentel is mad with us,” Khonghun added.
House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jil Bongalon of Ako-Bicol Partylist said it was unnecessary for Senator Pimentel to divert the issue by comparing the budget of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“One thing is clear: the House of Representatives, with its over 300 members, does not have a P23-billion building project. Senator Pimentel’s attempts to divert scrutiny from the Senate’s controversial expenditure by highlighting the House’s budget increase are unfounded and misleading,” Bongalon, a lawyer, said.
“Public funds must be utilized transparently and judiciously, irrespective of the agency or branch of government,” he added.
The two lawmakers noted that it is not their responsibility to defend the allocation and expenditure of the Senate’s budget.
“There is no need to be onion-skinned about the criticisms aimed at the Senate’s spending. As public officials, we must all be open to scrutiny, especially when it concerns the use of taxpayers’ money,” said Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, also a lawyer.
“The public deserves to know why the cost of the NSB has escalated so dramatically, and your role as a senator should include ensuring accountability and transparency, not merely defending controversial projects,” Gutierrez, nominee of 1-Rider party-list group, added.
“Senator Pimentel’s defense of the Senate’s budgetary allocation on its new building is unnecessary. What we need is transparency and accountability. The question remains: why has the NSB’s budget ballooned to P23.3 billion, from its original allocation of P8.9 billion?” Assistant Majority Leader and Rep. Paolo Ortega of La Union, for his part, stated.
“Senator Pimentel’s remarks are a distraction from the core issue. It’s about the responsible use of public funds. We, the Senate and the House, should all work together to ensure fiscal responsibility,” Ortega added.
Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay disputed recent claims regarding the cost of constructing the New Senate Building (NSB). Contrary to the P23.3 billion figure cited by her successor, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Binay asserts that the true contract price for the NSB stands at P8.9 billion.
Binay previously chaired the Senate Accounts Committee responsible for overseeing the NSB project. She expressed her frustration over Cayetano, who took over the committee, and raised the controversial cost estimate to Senate President Francis Escudero.
“That’s a mistake (the reported cost), He (Cayetano) never talked to me, he never asked me,” Binay lamented, criticizing the lack of communication during the transition of the committee leadership.
She emphasized she has yet to have a direct discussion with Cayetano about the ongoing construction and believes that an open dialogue would be more productive.
“I’m extending an invitation to him, and he can even invite the media [to] our meeting, so [everyone] can hear my responses to his [concerns],” Binay proposed, suggesting transparency as a means to resolve the confusion.
Binay explained that the misunderstanding likely stems from a misinterpretation of the project’s financial details.
She highlighted that the land acquisition for the NSB, costing P1.6 billion and being paid on an installment basis, might have been mistakenly included in Cayetano’s construction cost estimate.
According to Binay, separating the land purchase from the actual construction costs is essential for accurate reporting. She said the cost of the land should not be included in the total construction amount.
Binay also touched on the financial burden of the Senate’s current rental expenses. She pointed out that the Senate is paying nearly P400 million annually in rent to GSIS, which owns the building, with close to P100 million alone for parking.
Reflecting on the origins of the NSB project, Binay acknowledged former Senator Panfilo Lacson’s role in advocating for a permanent Senate building to mitigate these substantial rental costs.
Looking ahead, Binay expressed her commitment to seeing the project through to completion.
Had she remained in charge, she projected a partial opening of the NSB by July 2025, which is aligned with the next Congress session. Any delays, she warned, would only add to the Senate’s financial burdens.