Roads with wrong coordinates could be human error, can be fixed in budget bicam — Adiong

MANILA — Allocations for farm-to-market roads flagged for having coordinates in the sea may have been a case of “human error”, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, said Thursday. 

He said these can still be rectified during the bicameral conference committee meeting on the 2027 national budget.

“It could probably be a result of human error,” he said of projects that a civil society watchdog group had flagged after a review.

Differences between the Senate and House versions of a bill are ironed out at by the bicameral conference committee. Bicams for the national budget have historically been held behind closed doors, but efforts have been made to livestream proceedings.

Adiong said “there’s nothing to fear because it will still pass to the scrutiny of the bicameral conference.”

He also said that the proposed infrastructure budget allocations for next year are based on the needs of communities.

He issued the statement after Caloocan City 2nd District Edgar Erice slammed as “callousness” the proposed 2027 allocation of more than P4 billion for Department of Public Works and Highways infrastructure projects in Ilocos Norte’s 1st District, which is represented by House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.

Adiong said that there is a “presumption of regularity that all these projects that are intended for specific area is actually the demand in need of a certain community.” 

“I think it’s just a matter of justifying it and making sure that the public understands… If these projects are multi-year it should be continuously funded by the government kasi multi-year ‘yan and kung big ticket yan talagang kailangan (because they are multi-year and that is what big-ticket projects really need),” he said.

He said that what is important is that project coordinates are correct, that they reflect what the area and the constituency need, and are implemented well.

“‘Yun po talaga ‘yung importante, dahil itong mga proyektong ito, itong pondo na ito ay bumabalik naman sa mga community… sa mga lugar sa ating bansa,” he added.

(That is really what is important because these projects, the funds for them, go back to the communities… to the places in our country.)