1Tahanan Party-list Rep. Nathaniel Oducado has filed House Bill No. 6967, also known as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure Integrity Act of 2025, seeking the establishment of a permanent and independent body to strengthen infrastructure planning, oversight, and accountability nationwide.
The proposed measure responds to recurring flooding and disaster-related damages that continue to expose systemic weaknesses in the country’s infrastructure.
Studies estimate that disasters cost the Philippines between P85 billion and P422 billion annually—equivalent to 1 to 3 percent of GDP—affecting over 12 million Filipinos each year.
“These losses are largely attributed to gaps in planning, design standards, maintenance, and institutional oversight,” Oducado said.
Oducado further said that HB 6967 aims to address these issues by mandating the Commission to develop and regularly update a National Infrastructure Plan every three years, ensuring alignment with risk assessments, resilience goals, and national development priorities.
It also creates a Monitoring and Investigation Body empowered to oversee infrastructure projects, enforce compliance with technical and transparency standards, and investigate failures, with authority to access records, issue subpoenas, and recommend administrative or legal action when necessary, he pointed out.
“Modeled on international best practices in infrastructure governance, the proposed Commission integrates long-term planning with rigorous, independent oversight to ensure infrastructure integrity throughout the project lifecycle,” Oducado stressed.
The 1Tahanan representative also said that in light of increasing climate-related risks and persistent infrastructure challenges, the measure further aims to safeguard lives, protect public funds, and restore public confidence by institutionalizing transparency, efficiency, and accountability in national infrastructure development.
