Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero emphasized the need for local government and community input in infrastructure projects, saying residents know best which programs should be implemented in their areas.
He urged that this principle guide the crafting of the 2026 General Appropriations Act to prevent substandard or ghost projects and save public funds from corruption.
Escudero noted that many abuses in infrastructure projects result from arbitrary legislative actions and collusion with executive officials.
He proposed requiring prior endorsement from Regional Development Councils and local governing bodies before any project can be included in the national budget or released for implementation.
The measure is part of his Grassroots Infrastructure Planning and Budgeting bill, which seeks to make local approval a condition for funding and execution of infrastructure projects.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 24, 2025
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE GREATER INPUT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, ESCUDERO URGES
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