Luistro asserts no hand in alleged P1.3-B DPWH ‘insertions’

Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said Wednesday that she had no knowledge on the alleged P1.3 billion insertion for infrastructure projects that was allocated for her in the House version of the budget that was transmitted to the Senate.

The lawmaker maintained that any projects that were inserted into the budget underwent a thorough coordination of officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), who had the final say in what was included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

She further stated that based on her understanding of the budget process, what was indicated in the NEP would also be included in the House General Appropriations Bill (HGAB).

“I will have to double check on how it happened but what I understand is that what was in the NEP would also be in the HGAB, and I wish to express our faith and confidence in the process which the institution follows,” Luistro said in a radio interview.

Luistro explained that projects that were included in the DPWH’s budget were often based on the needs of the public who would then coordinate the same to their respective local government units.

After that, the project would be proposed and consulted to the district engineering office then ultimately turned over to the central office of the public works agency that will decide whether the project makes it into the NEP.

As for her lack of knowledge on the process undertaken by the House, she said that she was primarily focused on her role in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte where she serves as the lead prosecutor.

Unlike the Senate which went on a break to cater to the budget discussions, the 11 lawmakers that were selected as members of the House prosecution panel were tasked with participating in the trial which coincided with the lower chamber’s budget deliberations.

Luistro would likewise denounce notions by critics that the high allocations could be because of her active participation in the impeachment, reiterating that it was the DPWH that had the final say when it comes to projects.

“This impeachment trial has nothing to do with the budget process…the DPWH has the final call on what projects from the many requests would be included in the National Expenditure program,” she said.

“This NEP, we have to understand, is subject to approval also of the Department of Budget and Management because this is subject to the ceiling observed by the executive office,” she added.

In light of the allegations, Luistro said that she would be coordinating with the House Committee on Appropriations to gain a better understanding of the supposed insertions of her district, particularly the list of projects.

She stressed that doing so would allow her to avoid making assumptions of how the amount allegedly rose to P1.3 billion.

Luistro also pointed out that the district engineering office that was cited in the reports were shared between the 2nd and 5th congressional districts of Batangas.