Regardless of the outcome of efforts to unearth the truth about the existence of a cartel that corners public works contracts, lawmakers by now should have sufficient information to craft legislation that will streamline the government’s procurement system. Allies of the administration in the House of Representatives can keep their hands off the untouchables in the construction sector and still perform their tasks as lawmakers.
Cynics believe such pieces of legislation will never emanate from the House, whose members, as recent reports have shown, have assets or interests in the construction business. Those without direct investments in construction count contractors as friends, political supporters or sources of kickbacks or commissions.
But there must be enough lawmakers with no vested interests in construction and who are ready to initiate reforms. Monopolies, cartels, rigged biddings and other unfair business practices as well as the opaqueness of the government’s procurement process turn away legitimate investors and, as the World Bank scandal has shown, lead to the withdrawal of foreign aid for development projects. Studies have shown that corruption over the years has diverted billions of pesos from projects meant to alleviate poverty into the pockets of a few privileged individuals. Corruption scandals have derailed major infrastructure projects that are truly needed by the nation, including an airport terminal and a modern railway system.
There must be enough lawmakers who truly have national interest foremost in their hearts, and who are ready to bring transparency to governance. In recent years there have been enough corruption scandals to give lawmakers leads on what must be done, which loopholes to plug and which steps in the procurement process can be done away with to reduce opportunities for corruption.
Eventually all the scandals will have to be settled through the criminal justice system, however flawed it may be. That responsibility belongs to another branch of government. Congress has its own work to do, and lawmakers must not shirk their own responsibility.