MANILA – Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Erwin Tulfo said the panel will resume its investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects once the committee is formally constituted when the Senate reconvenes on July 27.

In a radio interview, Tulfo said the committee cannot immediately conduct hearings because its membership has yet to be finalized.

“In the morning of [July] 27, which is the SONA, we will formalize the Blue Ribbon Committee. We cannot conduct a hearing yet because the membership has not yet been finalized. There will still be submissions of names to complete the membership and have it declared on the Senate floor—so it becomes official,” he said.

Tulfo said the committee intends to continue the flood control investigation but stressed that any new inquiry should identify additional individuals who may be held accountable.

“We will have flood control investigation. But what if the same names as to those who were charged by the Ombudsman due to the first Blue Ribbon Committee Report will come up again? Are we going to repeat it? There has to be new names,” he said.

He added that, as committee chair, he plans to invite all stakeholders and introduce procedural reforms, including stricter rules on affidavits and a prohibition on surprise witnesses. These changes, he said, will be formally presented after the committee is officially organized.

Beyond the investigation, Tulfo called for the adoption of a long-term Philippine infrastructure master plan, saying it would help prevent future irregularities in flood control projects.

“The flood control scam, being out in the open, can be considered a blessing in disguise. We discovered that the reason behind the non-stop flooding problem, our roads. It’s because the funds are being pocketed,” he said.

“For too long, infrastructure planning has largely been tied to the priorities of each administration. If we, have a masterplan, it doesn’t matter where the next President would be coming from,” he added.

Tulfo urged fellow lawmakers to support Senate Bill No. 1360, or the proposed Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act, which seeks to establish a whole-of-government strategy for infrastructure planning.

Under the proposed measure, projects of national significance would be prioritized while ensuring that they are aligned with regional and sectoral development plans.

Tulfo said the proposed law would harmonize infrastructure projects nationwide, from major undertakings to smaller developments.

“This measure will also help ensure that public resources are used more efficiently. If we have good planning, we will remove duplications, ramp up implementation, and bolster accountability. Every peso invested in infrastructure should create the greatest possible benefit for the Filipinos,” he said.