Palace is ready to cooperate with the Senate on the infra-probe »Manila Bulletin News

By Genalyn Kabiling

The Duterte Administration is willing to cooperate with a future Senate inquiry into two gigantic infrastructure projects to certify that these construction plans are in order.

The presidential spokesman, Salvador Panelo, however, expressed the hope that the survey proposed by Senator Leila de Lima would be conducted for the benefit of legislation and would not be part of any pretext. to discredit President Duterte.

Previously, De Lima had tabled a 927 Senate resolution calling for an investigation into the projects of the Build-Build-Build administration, in particular the construction of the Luçon North-South Luçon highway connection project and the project. suburban railway. Infrastructure projects could lead to the demolition of several communities that will move thousands of families to Metro Manila.

"We expect our relevant officials to attend the hearing, if and when they are called as resource persons, not only as a courtesy to a branch of the counterpart government, but also to inform the public that these projects are really in order, "Panelo said in a statement.

"We only hope that this investigation initiated by the senator really goes to the service of legislation and not only for political purposes, as she usually does," he added.

At the beginning of the electoral season, Panelo was concerned about any attempt by the President's political opponents to attack his leaders.

"The election season has arrived and with the president's ratings remaining high, the opposition's solution is to score political points by preventing the demolition and relocation, two major problems of the urban poor, to attack the president," he said. he declared.

Panelo argued, however, that the government's infrastructure projects were irrelevant during an impending congressional inquiry. He noted that the impact of the two projects on the affected communities had been taken into account.

"Feasibility studies were conducted, including on the general impact on the economy and the living conditions of the residents concerned, before the approval of the construction of these projects as a standard procedure" , did he declare.

"Therefore, we are confident that the government agencies involved have taken into account the concerns expressed and will continue to coordinate their efforts and work hand in hand to protect each of the interests of these concerns," he added.