Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito emphasized the need for institutionalized anticorruption safeguards in public works, saying precise project coordinates or station numbers could restore private sector confidence in government infrastructure projects.
Ejercito, a long-time advocate of mass transport and major infrastructure, praised Senator Win Gatchalian for initiating such safeguards during debates on the proposed 2026 national budget.
He noted that the practice of providing “SOPs,” or kickbacks, and “unreasonably low profit margins” has discouraged reputable construction firms from bidding for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.
“Malaking tulong ito para makampante hindi lang ang publiko, kundi pati ang mga legitimate construction firm na sumali muli sa public bidding,” Ejercito said.
He added, “If contractors are confident, projects move. And when high-impact projects move, so do jobs and our economy.”
The senator stressed that stronger mechanisms are necessary to prevent corruption, especially after anomalous flood control projects involving senior DPWH officials.
Requiring project mapping with clear coordinates, he said, would deter manipulation, improve monitoring, and encourage legitimate firms to participate in high-impact infrastructure programs.
“Bottomline, we need legitimate contractors to stay in the system and we need high-impact infrastructure to continue. Ito ang magbibigay ng trabaho at magpapaandar sa ating ekonomiya,” Ejercito said.