00:00While the public hailed the creation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure to exhaustively probe the plug control measure's mess,
00:07lawmakers, experts, and concerned citizens have found the commission's vested powers wanting and lacking bite to truly accomplish its work.
00:16Hence, Malacanang is not shutting the door and bestowing the commission the fangs it needs to sink deep and hold all bad actors to account.
00:23As our Kenneth Paschente reports.
00:24Malacanang is open to the proposal to grant contempt powers to the newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI,
00:34which will investigate anomalous flood control projects.
00:37According to Palas Press, Officer, and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro,
00:42although this is not necessary since the commission is only a fact-finding body, it would still be welcome should it push through.
00:49Several lawmakers have already filed a bill in the House to grant contempt powers to ICI to strengthen the commission.
00:56The President will first study the contempt of the measure before making a decision.
01:00Hindi po kinakailangan talaga po na magkaroon ng power na mag-punish doon sa mga taong hindi dadalo.
01:09Pero kung iyon po ay ibibigay sa Independent Commission na mga mambabatas, maganda po siyang sugestyon.
01:17At iyan po ay welcome na welcome po sa Pangulo.
01:20As for the task force created by the Department of Justice to also investigate the flood control projects,
01:25the palace is confident that it will not overlap with the ICI.
01:30Hindi naman po sila gagawa na maaaring mag-komontra o mag-overlap sa adhikain at misyon ng ICI.
01:38Malamang at maaaring ating masabi ang gagawin po ng task force na ito ay para mapabilis.
01:43Ang mga nauna na nilang naimbestigahan.
01:45Kung meron na po sila mga naimbestigahan noon, maaaring na po sila agad magsampan ang kaso.
01:50At hindi naman po ito tututulan ng ICI.
01:52Funding for the ICI will come from the Office of the Executive Secretary.
01:56It is estimated that 21 million pesos will be needed for personal services or the staff required for the commission's operations.
02:04Pag hindi na kaya, they will request from us.
02:08So it's a charge natin ito sa contingent fund for the MOE and capital outlist for their operations.
02:14P.S.
02:14We are already working on their structure.
02:19May executive director and then yung tatlo and then siyempre may tao sa baba.
02:23We will create the positions accordingly.
02:26Today the commission officially began its work a day after their oath-taking.
02:30The ICI has not yet appointed an executive director but according to Undersecretary Castro, this may be announced before the week ends.
02:39Kenneth Paciente
02:40From the National TV Network
02:42For a new and better Philippines
