00:00The House of Representatives is moving full steam ahead with efforts to strengthen the powers of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, or ICI.
00:08With deliberations underway, lawmakers are hoping to cross the finish line and pass the bills by the end of the month.
00:15Our Mel Alice Moras reports.
00:18The House of Representatives is aiming to pass the proposed measure that seeks to strengthen the powers of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, or ICI,
00:28on third and final reading this month.
00:30Earlier today, the House Committee on Government Reorganization started deliberating on the proposals.
00:36Two bills have been filed concerning the ICI.
00:39These are House Bill No. 4453, which will be known as the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Act of 2025 once enacted,
00:48and House Bill No. 5699, which is similar to the first proposal but contains more detailed provisions.
00:54The two bills will be consolidated once passed.
00:57Ito po ay para ma-strengthen natin, mapalakas natin yung ngipin ng the ICI.
01:04Kung alam naman natin pala, wala silang mga content powers, kaya yung subpo na powers,
01:09bibigyan din natin sila ng mga karapatan na yung hold departure order, wala.
01:15At saka yung direct sana, yung mga kumapabasa natin yung bill na ito,
01:19directa na sila, mag-file ng kaso sa directa sa Sandigan Bayan.
01:23At present, the ICI is focused on investigating the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country.
01:30According to Act Teachers Partialist Rep. Antonio Tino, aside from that,
01:35there should also be a probe on alleged corruption in farm-to-market road projects.
01:40They have thus filed House Resolution No. 421 to have several House committees look into the matter.
01:45Tino stressed that curbing the alleged irregularities in these road projects would greatly benefit not only the farmers but also the consumers.
01:54Well, ibig sabihin, bababa ang presyo ng bigas sa consumers.
02:01Dahil ang isang malaking tinataas ng presyo ay supposedly yung gastos ng pag-transport mula sa bukit tungo sa market.
02:14So, iyon ang halaga ng farm-to-market roads. Magpapamura sa presyo ng bigas kung magiging maayos ang logistics o yung transportasyon ng produkto.
02:28Meanwhile, House Committee on Public Accounts Chair Terry Ridon said that this month,
02:32they will also begin discussions on issues surrounding the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project.
02:37Mela Lesmoraz from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
