The new Senate building is undergoing intense scrutiny.

To pass the requirements for transparency and accountability, the new Senate building (NSB) must survive intense ongoing scrutiny from both internal and external oversight bodies. The steep rise in cost from P8.9 billion to over P31 billion has triggered a series of mandatory legal and administrative reviews designed to validate whether this huge jump is justified or constitutes an “overprice.”

The project’s compliance with transparency standards hinges on several key processes:

1. Mandatory Technical and Financial Audits

a) Senate Suspension and Review: In June 2024, Senate President Francis Escudero suspended construction specifically to conduct a “comprehensive review” of the escalating costs and quality issues.

b) Third-Party Validation: Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the Committee on Accounts, has engaged a third-party construction management team to independently validate the technical and financial aspects of the project to ensure no room for padding.

2. Compliance with Procurement Laws (RA 9184 & RA 12009)

a) Variation Order Limits: Under Commission on Audit (CoA) rules, variation orders (design changes) should ideally not exceed 10 percent of the original contract price. The NSB has already flagged variations totaling P833 million, nearly 10 percent.

It is generally known that the NSB is the brainchild or “dream” of both Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

Whether Sotto and Lacson have achieved their dream of a new Senate building is currently a matter of active debate, as the project has faced significant cost escalations and delays. While the physical structure is nearing completion, the vision of an affordable, world-class landmark has encountered several challenges.

As of February 2026, here is the status of their involvement and of the project.

1. Returning to Oversee the NSB

a) Active Supervision: In a turn of events for the 20th Congress, Lacson returned to the Senate (as Senate President Pro Tempore) and regained leadership of the Committee on Accounts, which oversees the project.

b) Commitment to Cost Reduction: Sotto has publicly expressed confidence that with Lacson back at the helm, the building’s cost will be reduced from the P31-P33 billion projections seen during the interim. They are reportedly aiming to bring the final cost to P20 billion by removing unnecessary expenses.

2. Current Completion Timeline

a) Target Move-in: Sotto recently announced that the Senate is eyeing a transfer to the new building by mid-2017 or the third quarter of 2027.

b) Original Vision vs Reality: The project was initially envisioned to be completed by 2021 at a cost of roughly P8.9 billion. The significant delay (from 2021 to 2027) and the price hike mean the NSB has been deferred by over six years.

The “Product” and National Pride

a) Iconic Status: The building has successfully “topped out” (structural completion of the roof) and its iconic green and sustainable design by AECOM remains intact.

b) Legacy at Stake: Lacson has admitted that while the goal is a “secure, functional, and green” home of the Senate, he is saddened that it is perceived by some as a symbol of government overspending.

While the vision of a permanent home for the Senate is physically manifesting, Sotto and Lacson are currently in a race to ensure that the final “product” is remembered for its utility and transparency rather than its price tag.

Email: arturobesana2@gmail.com