PALACE NAMES MAGALONG AS INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR INFRASTRACTURE SPECIAL ADVISER; SINGSON, FAJARDO AS MEMBERS

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has designated the two members of the newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), created to investigate corruption in flood control projects over the past decade, citing their proven competence and integrity.

President Marcos appointed former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson and SGV and Co. Country Managing Partner Rossana A. Fajardo as the two Commission members, Malacañang announced on Saturday.

The President also named Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as Special Adviser who will act as an investigator of the Commission.

Under Executive Order No. 94 issued on September 11, President Marcos created the ICI to investigate and recommend appropriate charges against government officials, employees, or individuals involved in anomalies in flood control and related projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) within the last 10 years.

“To lead this task, the President has appointed individuals of proven competence, integrity, and deep familiarity with infrastructure, finance, and institutional reform,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Saturday.

Castro said President Marcos himself will announce the chairperson of the ICI in the coming days.

Castro said Singson brings decades of direct experience in both the planning and execution of major government infrastructure projects, having served as head of the DPWH from 2010 to 2016 and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) from 1998 to 2002.

“As former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, he led one of the most significant reform efforts in the agency’s history, introducing systems to promote transparency, eliminate ghost projects, and ensure proper use of public funds,” said Castro.

“His technical understanding of how projects are designed, procured, and implemented will be essential to this commission’s work,” she added.

Currently the Country Managing Partner of SGV and Co., the Philippines’ largest professional services firm, Fajardo has over three decades of experience in auditing internal controls and risk management, “especially in identifying weaknesses in financial system and operational processes,” said Castro.

The Palace Press Officer said Fajardo has worked across both public and private sectors to “help organizations detect fraud, strengthen governance and build more accountable institutions.”

“Her technical insight and financial acumen are critical in following the trail of public funds and determining where leakages and irregularities may have occurred,” Castro stressed.

Meanwhile, Magalong has handled sensitive, high-impact investigations and helped lead institutional reforms in law enforcement, having served as Deputy Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and former Director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“His experience in leading difficult investigations, uncovering internal wrongdoing, and enforcing compliance makes him a strong asset to this commission,” Castro said.