November 11, 2025 | 6:15pm
MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Bojie Dy kicked off the plenary session on Tuesday, November 11, by pledging to prioritize a bill that would expand the powers of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
Two bills have already been filed in the House of Representatives and are now under deliberation by the Committee on Government Reorganization. House Bills 4453 and 5699 both aim to create the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC) and grant it additional powers, such as the ability to cite invited resource persons in contempt.
Recognizing that corruption in infrastructure projects has caused widespread suffering among Filipinos, he challenged his fellow lawmakers to deliver genuine reform, ensuring that promises are not merely made but actually fulfilled.
“Una, ang Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption or ICAIC bill sa harap ng mga ulat ng katiwalian at ghost projects, hindi sapat ang galit. Kailangan natin ang solusyon. Ang ICI bill ay makakatulong upang mapanagot ang mga indibidwal na sangkot sa katiwalian sa flood control projects,” he said.
(First, in the face of reports on corruption and ghost projects, anger alone is not enough. We need solutions. The ICAIC bill can help hold accountable the individuals involved in corruption in flood control projects.)
Dy vowed that the measure will not be delayed, saying Filipinos have “zero tolerance for corruption,” and assured it would be passed on third and final reading before Congress adjourns in December.
The House Committee on Government Reorganization began hearings on the proposed measures on Tuesday, gathering the positions of various agencies and commissions involved in the operations of the ICI.
Several agencies, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the ICI itself, have suggested granting the commission powers beyond those provided by the executive order that established it.
These include the authority to directly file — not just recommend — the filing of complaints, cancel the registration of establishments found responsible for anomalous infrastructure projects, and automatically revoke the professional licenses of implicated officials.
Although the ICI was formed just two months ago, public demand is mounting for swift action in filing cases, conducting investigations and resolving complaints — especially as high-ranking officials, including legislators and agency heads, face scrutiny in the flood control corruption scandal that has fueled regular protests nationwide.