Senator Panfilo Lacson warned that a bill speeding up classroom construction must include safeguards to prevent conflict of interest and avoid another “Napoles” scandal.
While backing the measure, he flagged issues on the expanded role of non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups (CSOs) in bidding and monitoring.
Lacson noted that under Republic Act No. 12009, NGO participation is limited and CSOs can only act as observers to avoid conflicts. If definitions blur, he said, it could open the door to abuses similar to the Napoles fake-NGO scam.
The senator also asked about the unspent P54.883 billion under the 2022–2025 Basic Education Facilities Fund, with only P36 billion used so far.
Senator Bam Aquino said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was solely responsible for building classrooms during that period, which slowed spending.
His bill seeks to let local government units (LGUs) and NGOs build classrooms, noting LGUs and CSOs can deliver them at much lower cost than the DPWH.IMT
