Lacson questions DILG on P1.5-B potable water program

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday questioned the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) over a P1.5-billion program on potable water supply. The senator asked whether the potable water program falls under the mandate of the DILG or the Local Water Utilities Administration (LUWA). "Tsine-check lang namin, kasi ang technical expertise wala sa LGUs, [nasa] LWUA. So I suppose it was transferred to the DILG dahil noong araw may suspetsa sa previous administration ng LWUA, said Senator Panfilo Lacson, who raised the issue during the hearing on the DILG's budget for 2012. Interior and local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said during the hearing that the budget was under originally under the LWUA but was transferred to the Health Department then to the DILG . The LWUA's previous administration — under former Rep. and defeated senatorial bet Prospero Pichay Jr. — had been criticized over the LWUA's acquisition of a cash-strapped thrift bank that resulted in losses to the government. Lacson said there is a plan to have further discussions with the DILG over who should best implement the potable water program. "Kung hindi, I think they should be returned to LWUA," he added. — VS, GMA News