President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to submit progress reports on infrastructure projects every two weeks, warning officials against falsifying updates.
“Huwag ninyong subukang magbigay ng maling report,” Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro quoted the President as saying during a Cabinet meeting on January 30.
Marcos directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fast-track construction, particularly of school buildings, and stressed that reports must reflect actual progress.
“Ang sinabi niya, kapag nagkaroon ng report, ayaw niya po na dahil lang sa magkakaroon ng monitoring every two weeks ay maliin ang report o papogiin ang report. So, ayaw po ng Pangulo ng maling report,” Castro said.
The Palace is developing a mechanism to ensure accuracy in submissions, following past cases of falsified progress reports on incomplete or non-existent projects.
Castro added that intentional false reporting would carry penalties, including possible removal from office.
“Well, depende po iyan; ito ba ay in good fate, ito ba ay negligence, ito ba ay sinadya? So definitely kapag sinadya ito, may kaakibat na parusa ito – maaari silang matanggal sa kanilang puwesto,” she explained.
“Kung negligence naman, ganoon din po ang mangyayari dahil bilang isang public servant, walang puwang na tayo ay maging negligent. Hangga’t maaari, pagbutihin ang trabaho para sa bayan,” she added.