‘Mandate fulfilled’: Singson resigns from ICI

Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Commissioner Rogelio “Babes” Singson on Thursday announced his resignation from the commission, saying he had fulfilled his mandate to help government agencies understand the full technical process behind the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) project cycle to untangle corruption.

Singson, in a press briefing, said his primary responsibility within the ICI was to walk agencies through the technical steps of project identification, budgeting, approval, and implementation for both locally funded and ODA-supported infrastructure programs.

“My role was to provide the technical aspects of the DPWH process — from project identification, implementation, approval, and the budget process for both local and ODA projects,” he said.

“I had to explain that before several government agencies… otherwise the learning curve would be too long.”

Multiple institutions were briefed by Singson, including the DOJ, Department of Budget and Management, Socioeconomic Planning Office, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs, and others, to help them understand how infrastructure projects move from planning to execution and where vulnerabilities could be exploited.

He also met recently with DPWH officials and the incoming senior DPWH leadership team to walk them through the same process.

“We spent the whole morning explaining the process, but more importantly, the loopholes in the DPWH. We also gave our recommendations to plug those possible situations,” Singson said.

He said he emphasized five core principles in infrastructure implementation: “right project, right cost, right quality, right on time, and done by the right people.”

The resigned ICI official also highlighted reforms introduced during his tenure as DPWH secretary from 2010 to 2016 — several of which he reiterated to the new officials.

These included publicizing the approved budget for contracts (ABC) to ensure transparency and discourage padded bids.

“We always made sure that the ABC, the total budget for the contract, was publicized so that people know exactly what the budget is. If you’re outside the plus-or-minus range, you’re considered a straight bid,” he said.

He added that DPWH also required contractors to submit an “integrity pledge” as part of their bidding documents, committing them to avoid corrupt practices. Bids without the pledge were automatically disqualified.

“That was part of your documents. If you don’t submit that, we will not allow you,” he said.

Singson said his resignation was due mainly to stress, health concerns — as his latest medical results showed red flags in his blood pressure — and security concerns for his family, noting that since he joined the ICI, “many calls” and recognitions have caused unease.

“I came here very early in the morning to go about voluminous documents and leave in the afternoon,” Singson said, adding that his family, particularly his wife and children, requested that he step down.

However, Singson said he is ready to lend a hand if needed.