INFRA PROJECTS SCANDAL: Soco condemns budget insertions

Local

WHEN lawmakers and national agencies slip projects into the budget through small committee meetings and bicameral conferences, local governments lose control, and transparency suffers.

Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco specifically condemned budget insertions, saying they fuel corruption and weaken public trust in government.

Soco criticized the insertion of projects outside the proper budget process, explaining that funds should first pass through city and municipal development councils, then provincial and regional councils, before inclusion in the National Expenditure Program and eventual approval under the General Appropriations Act.

By bypassing local scrutiny, he said in an interview on Monday, Sept. 22, national agencies reduce accountability and prevent local governments from confirming that projects meet community needs.

Reflecting on his time with the Regional Development Council, Soco recalled clashes between congressmen and regional agency directors over the review of proposed projects under the Public Investment Program.

He noted that, despite local opposition, some projects found their way into the national budget through insertions, illustrating a long-standing weakness in the system.

Soco welcomed public protests against corruption, including the Trillion Peso March across Cebu on September 20, saying citizen action underscores the public’s demand for accountability.

“It’s good that the people have spoken and it’s something that we in government should hear,” he said, emphasizing the need for transparency and responsible governance.

He highlighted anomalies in flood control projects, observing that citizens often contribute taxes but receive limited benefits due to mismanaged programs.

While acknowledging the presence of honest officials, Soco said widespread greed and manipulation of the system have lowered public confidence.

He stressed the need for stronger coordination between national agencies and local government units to validate projects and ensure they genuinely serve the communities they target.

Soco argued that local officials are better positioned to evaluate projects because they are directly accountable to residents and understand local priorities.

By implementing projects independently, national agencies weaken accountability and make it difficult to hold officials responsible for missing funds.

He called for robust oversight mechanisms to prevent such bypasses and safeguard public resources.

The vice governor expressed support for Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon’s effort to hold officials accountable.

“The first objective now is to institute fear. Fear of God and by doing so then heads have to roll. Someone has to be made accountable kay na establish naman na nga naa gyu’y nawalang kwarta,” Soco said.

He described these measures as essential to deter future misconduct and restore trust in government institutions.

He concluded that only through close collaboration between local and national authorities, combined with public vigilance, can systemic corruption be addressed and citizens’ confidence in government restored.(MyTVCebu)