Roxas supports civil society-led watchdog for WB road projects

Senator Manuel “Mar" Roxas on Tuesday said the World’s Bank’s decision to defer its $232-million infrastructure loan package to the Philippines was “a huge national embarrassment." Roxas, in a statement, said he supported the bank’s suggestion of creating a “road watch" group that would be led by members of the civil society. He said the group would assure transparency and integrity in the bidding of the bank's infrastructure projects in the country. “Sadly, however, this is also an indication of the need for independent monitors just to ensure that government does its job in an honest and professional manner," he added. The senator likewise criticized the executive branch, which he said “must not be seen as condoning the rigging of projects funded by multilateral organizations such as the World Bank through loans that eventually will be shouldered by the Filipino people." He said a “thorough investigation is needed to verify" the circumstances that led the bank to defer the grant of loans to the government. “If indeed, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane had ordered an early investigation into the three failed bids cited in the World Bank report, then what were his findings?" he said. “The results of his inquiry and any subsequent steps he took to prevent a repeat of such questionable biddings must immediately be made public," he added. - GMANews.TV