TALISAY CITY – Should he earn a seat in the Senate, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson intends to expedite the funding for the government’s new regional offices in the newly created Negros Island Region (NIR) for 2026.
Lacson, who also batted for tweaking the region’s name to include Siquijor, said that even if the proposed budget for the NIR is not included in the proposed 2026 budget, he would find ways to make sure it is not left behind.
“Siguro in deliberation of the 2026 budget when it goes to the Senate from the House, we’ll make sure the items needed – maski hindi for the particular year 2026, maski multi-year kung di kakayanin – at least ma-accelerate ang organization ng new region (Should the proposed 2026 budget reach the Senate, we’ll make sure there is funding for the items needed not just for 2026 but for multiple years, just to accelerate the organization of the new region),” he said at the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas press conference here Friday afternoon.
Related: Ping Lacson, Hahanap ng Paraan Para May Sapat na Budget ang NIR Regional Offices
He said the region still lacks regional offices of government line agencies, thus the urgent need for funding in the 2026 budget.
“They need help to organize because it is not a joke to organize the regional offices,” he said in Filipino, in an interview on Bombo Radyo Bacolod earlier in the day.
“We will study ways to ensure by way of budget legislation how to make the regional offices in NIR work efficiently,” he added.
Lacson reiterated that scrutinizing the national budget will remain his main priority, adding he will not waste the trust of the people should they vote him into office this May.
“If I will be entrusted with another chance to return to the Senate, I will not waste your vote. I will continue my advocacy to fight corruption and scrutinize the national budget to ensure our taxes do not go to waste,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lacson batted for tweaking the NIR’s name to include Siquijor. There are proposals to rename the region the Negros Island-Siquijor Administrative Region (NISAR).
“Let’s not set aside the small island province of Siquijor,” Lacson said.
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Ping Lacson, Hahanap ng Paraan Para May Sapat na Budget ang NIR Regional Offices
TALISAY CITY – Sakaling manalo uli siya sa Senado sa Mayo, balak ni dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na tiyaking may sapat na budget ang mga bagong regional offices ng gobyerno sa bagong Negros Island Region (NIR) para sa 2026.
Ani Lacson, na nagmungkahi ring baguhin ang pangalan ng bagong rehiyon para makasama ang Siquijor, kahit na ang budget para sa NIR ay hindi kasama sa panukalang budget para 2026, maghahanap siya ng paraan para tiyaking hindi maiiwanan ang rehiyon.
“Siguro in deliberation of the 2026 budget when it goes to the Senate from the House, we’ll make sure the items needed – maski hindi for the particular year 2026, maski multi-year kung di kakayanin – at least ma-accelerate ang organization ng new region,” aniya sa pulong pambalitaan ng Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas dito nitong Biyernes ng hapon.
Giit ni Lacson, wala pang regional offices ang ilang ahensya ng gobyerno sa NIR, kung kaya’t “urgent” na pondohan ito sa 2026 budget.
“Kailangan talaga matulungan para mapabilis ang pag-organize kasi hindi biro-biro ang mag-organize ng regional offices,” aniya sa Bombo Radyo Bacolod.
“Pagaaralan naming mabuti paano mapabilis by way of budget legislation paano maging mabilis at efficient ang pag-organize ng bagong region,” dagdag niya.
Muling idiniin ni Lacson na ang pagbusisi sa budget ang magiging prayoridad niya, at hindi niya sasayangin ang tiwala ng mga botanteng magbibigay sa kanya ng mandato bilang senador sa Mayo.
“Kung ako mabibigyan ng pagkakataon makabalik sa Senado hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang inyong boto. Pagpapatuloy ko ang aking advocacy na labanan ang katiwalian. Busisiin ang national budget nang sa ganoon maayos na panggastos hindi ang aksaya kung saan saan napupunta at ang iba pa di pa nagagamit,” aniya.
Samantala, iminungkahi ni Lacson na palitan ang pangalan ng NIR para makasama ang Siquijor. May panukalang pangalanin ang rehiyon na Negros Island-Siquijor Administrative Region (NISAR).
“Kawawa naman, parang na-set aside mo small island province of Siquijor,” ani Lacson.
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