Nograles to quiz DOTr on pending projects

HOUSE Appropriations Chairman, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles is looking forward to asking Department of Transportation (DOTr) officials some tough questions once the panel resumes its budget deliberations this week.

"The opinion of many is that the DOTr has been the most underperforming agency under President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. Just ask any commuter or MRT rider and he or she will have something to say about the department," Nograles noted Monday.

"DOTr officials headed by Secretary Arthur Tugade will have to answer to the House of the People soon as we try to justify its budget for 2018 against the backdrop of its performance in the past year and a half," Nograles added.

Last Sunday, the Davao lawmaker expressed worries that the DOTr may end up slowing down the Duterte administration's Build, Build, Build program.

The program is anchored on Duterte's promTRIBAL ise to usher in a "Golden Age of Infrastructure" during his term.

"Mas nakikita ko ang problema yong DOTr. Kasi may ilan na projects ang DOTr na gaya nong sinabi ko nong 2016 at 2017 na hindi umuusad," Nograles said in a radio interview.

"Mas nakikita ko na magkakaroon ito ng problema. Pagdating ng hearing ng Department of Transportation sa Committee, tatanungin ko talaga ang mga ito," vowed Nograles.

The Chairman said that quizzing the Transportation agency regarding its output is part of the House of Representatives' oversight function.

At the very least, the riding public--weary of the perennial traffic as well as the limitations and usual glitches of the existing rail systems--deserve to hear the explanation of DOTr executives, Nograles pointed out.

"There are several LRT lines na hindi nag-push through in the previous budget because of various reasons. I think the primary reason ay right

of way nga. Yong mga nakatira hindi nila ma-relocate or hindi nila ma-relocate yong mga settlers don. Because of that, hindi natutuloy ang mga projects ng mga LRT lines," he said.

Asked in the interview if he thought the DOTr has been neglecting its duty based on these unrealized projects, Nograles answered in the affirmative but acknowledged that the agency will have its excuses.

"Pwede nating sabihing ganon (neglect of Duterte's directives) but syempre may mga excuse sila na hindi naman nila kasalanan," he said.

"They always say it's (projects) under negotiation. It's not as if they didn't do anything at all, no. Sumusubok naman sila pero yon nga lang, under negotiation pa," he added.

Among the transportation projects that have been greenlit under the BUILD BUILD BUILD program are the Mindanao Railway Project Phase 1 (Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment), Malolos-Clark Railway Project (PNR North 2), Clark International Airport Expansion Project, and the new LRT Line 1 North Extension Project (Common Station / Unified Grand Central Station).