MANILA, Dec. 4 -- Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is pushing for safeguards to ensure that the speedy construction of classrooms and school buildings are not marred by irregularities.

During his interpellation of Senate Bill (SB) 1482 on Wednesday, Lacson raised the possibility of another "pork barrel scam" happening due to too much involvement of non-government organizations (NGOs) in such projects.

"If we involve NGOs and they will actively participate in bidding, monitoring, etc., [there is the] conflict of interest," he said, as quoted in a news release Thursday.

"Pork barrel scam," which made the headlines in 2010, refers to the use of fake NGOs as conduits to steal billions of pesos in public funds.

Filed by Senator ...