00:00Former Senator Panfilo Lacson defended the construction of the new Senate building in Taguig City.
00:08This is the most expensive year to pay for the rent of the current Senate building.
00:16Daniel Manalastas reports.
00:20The Senate Committee on Accounts Chairperson Alan Peter Cayetano
00:24said that the construction of the new Senate building should be continued even though the review is ongoing.
00:29He said in a Facebook Live that the third phase may be postponed because it hasn't started yet.
00:34According to the news, phase 1 and phase 2, this is the bid and this is the ongoing.
00:40The construction that we are reviewing can continue.
00:44There is no conflict.
00:45There is a part that was negotiated for a billion pesos.
00:49I agree and support the decision of the Senate President.
00:52And this will not cause delays because we have to find out if the amount is right,
00:58if we will buy it right, and if the construction is right.
01:02According to Senator Aimee Marcos,
01:04it is right to review first what is the total budget for this.
01:08But the Senator clarified that there is no blame in talking about it.
01:12I support the decision of our new SP, Chis Escudero.
01:17I admit that I wasn't able to focus on the new building
01:21because I am ashamed to move to a new building.
01:24Now that it is in need of food, money, and people's livelihood,
01:29and the Senate has a very expensive building, I am ashamed.
01:33Meanwhile, former Senator Ping Lakson clarified
01:36that their plan for the new Senate building was designed for more than 24 Senators.
01:42Senator Coco Pimentel requested that there will be a charter change
01:49and the Senators will be elected by the region.
01:54So he said, Senator Ping, maybe we can accommodate good for 65 Senators.
02:03Lakson also defended some of the issues in the new Senate building
02:07that raised the question of the structure.
02:11This is not a joke.
02:13You know, this is another one.
02:15When we visit other parliaments,
02:19we were inspired by the British Parliament, Hungary,
02:25these are the iconic ones, the capital.
02:28When you see in the postcard or picture,
02:31you immediately know that it is the US Congress,
02:35Budapest, or Westminster.
02:38But the Philippines is probably the only one in the world that is still standing.
02:42It is quartered.
02:44It came from the National Museum.
02:46It came from everywhere.
02:47And now, the one in the GSIS is still standing.
02:50Lakson also condemned the Senate's expensive payment
02:53to the current building owned by the GSIS.
02:56I anticipated this even before.
02:58The moment Hillmark won the bidding, I anticipated it.
03:03That's why my initial action was to gather DPWH Hillmark's representative in a meeting.
03:11And there, in no uncertain terms, I told them to forgive this Senate building.
03:19If there are any lies in the department,
03:23you can exempt this Senate building.
03:26Daniel Manalastas for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
