By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
It could be a record of sorts among less-developed countries when the Senate of the Philippines building would be finished. The unfinished edifice has now eaten up more than PhP23.0 billion, and by present estimate, it could soar up to PhP26.0 billion when completed .
It is now a source of intense exchanges among some senators, particularly between Senator N. Binay and Senator A. Cayetano. It should be.
I can remember that the same happened during the deliberations and post assessment of the budget for the 2019 SEA Games. Senator Cayetano was then under the microscope, being the chairman of the then local organizing committee. His budget then: PhP7.5B. Now the good senator is the one peering through the microscope, grilling senator Binay about the huge budget for the Senate Building.
For the 2019 SEA Games, they built several buildings-condo type buildings in the Athletes’ Village, and various new facilities for the Games. The total budget for the Games actually included everything such as billeting of athletes and officials, food, transportation and many more, in the various venues spread throughout Luzon (e.g. Metro Manila, Pampanga, Tarlac, La Union, Laguna).
Now we are seeing just one building, in one area, with a stupendous amount involved.
It appears that it is a misplaced opulence displayed by the senators who approved of the project.
Compare that with the POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac-yes that one where “I was born in the farm” fame- that spent PhP 6.187B, including the cost of the land, to construct many buildings. Look at these structures that they built: Main building, 6-storeys high; 8-storey condotel; 8 storey mall; at least 8 5-storey high villas/mansions, several dormitories, well-built tunnels, and many more.
Don’t get me wrong. I myself is against POGOs. We are just showing that with only one-fourth of the budget already spent for the senate building they could have already built an edifice that should serve the purpose of having a very functional building, complete with security features, that every Filipino could be proud of.
Why the need for a four-wing 10-storey high building when there are only 24 senators that could even be reduced when a sitting senator is designated as cabinet secretary like what just happened to Senator S. Angara? It appears like airport terminals!
It defies logic. It is exacerbated by lack of budget sourced out locally?
More than half of the allocated budget for the senate building could have been given to other regions like CAR. The Cordillera region has always been not among the priorities in the budgeting process. Yet, the region is propping up the national economy through its vegetable produce (supplying about 80% of the needed sub-tropical veggies in the country), metals mined, re-energizing tourism industry, education, etc.
Why not provide more budget in support of those sectors in CAR?
The ostentatious display of opulence by any of the government agencies is out of bounds with the current realities.
The opulence shown is even amidst the dearth of effective laws passed. It should be in the direction of crafted laws that will make life better for Filipinos. Senate investigations that will not really result in better laws enacted has no place under the sun. Those will only help senators involved, get maybe re-elected
In India, there is a super rich fellow who had shown lavishness of wealth, non-pareil. He built a luxurious house that is reputed to be the most expensive private residence in the world. I don’t know if he belongs to the top 10 among the richest people in the world.
The residence is a 27-storey high building overlooking a sizeable portion of Mumbai. It has 3 helipads, has 168-car carage and has a 400,000 sq.ft of floor space. Maybe it is now a tourist attraction there.
It maybe majestic, I have not seen it. I think it was still being planned when I was in India first half of 2008. It is built in a country where at least 30% are dirt poor, although many are billionnaires.
The owner is Mr. Mukesh Ambani the chairman of the Reliance Industries. Reliance stores are ubiquitous in all states of India. I used to buy in those stores for what I neededwhen I was there.
Mr. Ambani did not have many children but he built such a humongous residence? It is all to show his opulence. It is not in any way helping the poor, but maybe it provided an inspiration for others to strive more in life. Chances are, they are faced with the resentment thought that “why is life unfair”?
Of course Ambani is a private individual, he can do what he wants with his resources. But if the government of India will do a remotely similar endeavor, it will probably be pelted with anything not exactly smelling like perfume.
I hope the Senate building, when completed, will not attract lingering resentments and much criticisms especially from those who are from the laylayan ng sosyedad.**
