House to Imee Marcos: Stop pointing fingers, we delivered on San Juanico Bridge
The House of Representatives on Friday fired back at Senator Imee Marcos for deflecting responsibility over the upkeep of the San Juanico Bridge.
They said that lawmakers should focus on solutions instead of pointing fingers and reminded Marcos that the House has long initiated funding for the landmark infrastructure.
In a press conference, House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante called out the senator for turning the issue into a personal attack rather than acknowledging her legislative responsibility, particularly in the national budget process.
'Una, bilang senador, kasama din sa tungkulin niya 'yung pagbalangkas ng budget ng bansa. Galing sa House, papunta sa Senate,' Abante said.
(First, as a senator, her duties also include drafting the country's budget. From the House, to the Senate.)
'Kaya nung kinuwestiyon niya kung ano ang nangyayari sa pangangalaga ng San Juanico Bridge, eh sinagot lang natin na alam ko, sigurado ako based on records may pondong nailagay for the maintenance ng San Juanico Bridge since 2018, mismo advocated by the congressman of the 1st District of Leyte,' she added, referring to Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
(So when she questioned what was happening with regards to the maintenance of the San Juanico Bridge, we just answered that I know, I am sure based on records there has been funding allocated for the maintenance of the San Juanico Bridge since 2018, itself advocated by the congressman of the 1st District of Leyte.)
Earlier, Abante challenged Marcos to account for her own contribution to the upkeep of the bridge, after the senator reportedly downplayed government efforts by saying the budget allocated for the structure was good only for repainting.
In Friday's press conference, Abante said that if the senator truly cared about the condition of the bridge, she should show what she has done to support it.
'Ngayon kung tatanungin niya ano 'yung nangyayari, dapat tanungin din bilang senador ano ang nagawa niya para sa San Juanico Bridge. Tutal, hindi pwedeng tanong lang nang tanong. Kailangan nagtatrabaho,' she said.
(Now if she asks what is happening, she should also be asked as a senator what she has done for the San Juanico Bridge. After all, we can't just ask questions. We need to work.)
Abante cited official data showing that the House had secured P27 million in funding for the bridge in 2018, followed by P22 million in 2019, P105 million in 2021, P90 million in 2022, and P150 million in 2023.
For 2026, a House-initiated proposal seeks to raise that amount to P400 million.
'This is a concrete initiative of the House of Representatives. Gusto rin nating malaman ano rin ang initiative ng Senado, tutal gusto nilang malaman kung ano ang nangyayari. Nasa posisyon sila para gumawa ng solusyon, hindi maghanap ng sisi,' Abante said.
(This is a concrete initiative of the House of Representatives. We also want to know what the Senate initiative is, because they want to know what is happening. They are in a position to create solutions, not find blame.)
Speaker Romualdez, who represents Leyte's 1st District where the bridge is located, has long included San Juanico's rehabilitation in his infrastructure agenda even before becoming Speaker.
The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge connects Samar and Leyte and is one of the longest bridge in the country. It serves as a crucial economic and transport link in Eastern Visayas and has also become a key tourism attraction.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently declared a state of calamity over the bridge after recent typhoons caused structural damage, triggering emergency rehabilitation measures. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
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