Marilyn Cahatol

Facade of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) headquarters in Taguig City Photo taken on October 15, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has conducted its longest livestreamed hearing so far on Monday, December 15, the last hearing day for the commission for 2025.</p><p>This was during its probe on the alleged budget insertions to the national budget where officials of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) appeared as its resource persons.</p><p>The hearings lasted for more than 2 hours attended by DBM Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo, Director Andrea Celene Magtalas, Undersecretary Janet Abuel, and Assistant Secretary Mary Anne Dela Vega.</p><p>The hearings focused on the alleged budget insertions to the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the General Appropriations Act (GAA).</p><p>According to Toledo, the DBM is not aware of insertions made in the NEP.</p><p>“We are not aware as to the changes as far as the process at the legislative process — we only be aware if we already have at the enrolled bill,” said Toledo.</p><p>“After that deliberation of both houses, even before the signing of the president, we have to look at the what has been enrolled,” Toledo added.</p><p>Outgoing ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson emphasized the P271 billion insertion alone in 2025.</p><p>Singson asked the DBM officials who is involved in what items to be vetoed.</p><p>“Its no longer being brought to the DBCC — It was raised during one of the meetings with the president as to what are those programs and projects that should be vetoed,” Toledo answered.</p><p>According to Singson, most of the budget insertions happened in 2003.</p><p>“A lot of the insertions did not happened in 02 but it is in 03,  yung mga flood mitigation and all of that. We can show you in very colorful diagram that really the insertions were not in flood control program. In 03 or other projects, just a one liner will find its way into the budget,” he said.</p><p>“It was further aggravated by congress curving out about P200 billion from the budget of DPWH so that total insertion came out to the additional 270 plus additional 200 coming from the NEP. I think, that’s why we have this huge problem because the insertion is not just 271 but an additional 200 from the NEP that was submitted by the DPWH. So its really disappointing that nobody flagged this early to the president… Many of those under the curved out project should have really been vetoed instead of just 26 billion,” Singson told the DBM.</p><p>But Toledo said the DBM does not know those insertions from the lawmakers because it&#x27;s a process that was done in the legislative level.</p><p>Commissioner Rossana Fajardo meantime asked Toledo if the DBM is just reactive or proactive. </p><p>The DBM official said it is on top of the situation but it is more reactive in terms of legislation of the budget.</p><p>“We are supposed to be on top of it. But in terms of legislation, we are just a reactive kasi we of course depends on the wisdom of the legislators… but as to the the preparation, yes, we are on top of that,” Toledo explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/rep-nicanor-briones-faces-ici-hearing-0951">Rep. Nicanor Briones faces ICI hearing; ex-DPWH Usec Cabral no show</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>&#x27;BUDGET INSERTIONS ARE STILL PORK BARREL&#x27;</strong></div><p>Singson believes congressmen&#x27;s priority projects in their respective districts that need funding are another form of “pork barrel”.</p><p>&quot;Each congressman have their all priority local projects, alam naman natin yun. I think this was the predecessor, kaya nagkaroon ng pork barrel, precisely to give their districts a certain amount and allow them to choose projects within a certain menu of projects,&quot; he said. &quot;Now they’ve mastered the process of doing the insertion as early as the NEP and as early as the GAA — so hindi na siya tawag pork barrel but to me but to me whatever you call it it&#x27;s still pork barrel.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/20/lawmaker-says-premature-to-clear-marcos-jr-from-budget-insertion-1625">Lawmaker says &#x27;premature&#x27; to clear Marcos Jr. from budget insertion<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>LAST DAY AT ICI</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, December 15 is the last day of Singson as ICI commissioner.</p><p>“Last day today, walang extension. I gave 30 day notice of irrevocable resignation. Wala na ako dito bukas, meron na akong ibang lakad bukas,” Singson told reporters.</p><p>Singson was also asked if there will be another ICI official following his resignation but he refused to make any comment.</p><p>In a separate ambush interview, ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr., was also asked if Commissioner Rossana Fajardo is resigning. He replied: “No comment muna.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/4/singson-says-ici-went-to-war-without-necessary-ammunition-1326">Singson says ICI was ‘asked to go to war without necessary ammunition’</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rDZBAE5LNBo?si=uDq2893_86Tpmenp" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The hearings focused on the alleged budget insertions to the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the General Appropriations Act (GAA).</p>

The hearings focused on the alleged budget insertions to the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

ICI asks DBM to be assertive, strict

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ICI asks DBM to be assertive, strict

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 15, 2025 05:53 PM PHT

Read More:

ICI

Andres Reyes Jr.

Babes Singson

Rossana Fajardo

DBM

Acting Sec. Rolando Toledo

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