Senator Erwin Tulfo announced that he intends to seek new breakthroughs once the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes its inquiry into corruption allegations surrounding flood control initiatives.
Tulfo, the panel’s chairperson, explained during a radio interview on Sunday, July 19, that the committee’s structure will be made official when the Senate gathers for the State of the Nation Address on July 27.
“In the morning of [July] 27, which is the SONA, we will formalize the Blue Ribbon Committee. We cannot conduct a hearing yet because the membership has not yet been finalized. There will still be submissions of names to complete the membership and have it declared on the Senate floor—so it becomes official,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that while the investigation will build upon previous findings, it should avoid targeting the exact same individuals.
“We will have flood control investigation. But what if the same names as to those who were charged by the Ombudsman due to the first Blue Ribbon Committee Report will come up again? Are we going to repeat it?” he asked. “There has to be new names,” Tulfo underscored.
Tulfo noted that the committee plans to summon all relevant stakeholders and introduce updated internal guidelines, which will feature stricter criteria for affidavits and a prohibition on unexpected witnesses.
He stated that these policy adjustments will take effect immediately after the panel is formally organized.
Looking at the bigger picture, Tulfo asserted that stopping future flood control fraud hinges on establishing long-range infrastructure roadmaps instead of temporary, politically motivated projects.
“The flood control scam, being out in the open, can be considered a blessing in disguise. We discovered that the reason behind the non-stop flooding problem, our roads. It’s because the funds are being pocketed,” he said. “For too long, infrastructure planning has largely been tied to the priorities of each administration. If we, have a masterplan, it doesn’t matter where the next President would be coming from,” he added.
To address this, Tulfo called on his peers to support Senate Bill No. 1360, also known as the “Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act.”
The proposed legislation advocates for a unified state strategy to prioritize vital national projects and align them with localized and sectoral development goals.
He argued that the bill would standardize infrastructure ventures at all levels and optimize the spending of taxpayer money.
“This measure will also help ensure that public resources are used more efficiently. If we have good planning, we will remove duplications, ramp up implementation, and bolster accountability. Every peso invested in infrastructure should create the greatest possible benefit for the Filipinos,” Tulfo concluded.