The House of Representatives cannot return the National Expenditure Program for 2026 to Malacanang over the “mangled” entries there, but there is a better option available, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) can submit errata sheets through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for Congress’ consideration.
“BUDGET 101: Congress cannot return the NEP to Malacañang since it is only a budget proposal, not an Enrolled Bill for approval or line-item veto by the President. However, the DPWH through the DBM may submit errata sheets but it is up to Congress to adopt such ‘errata’ or not,” he said in a post on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Pwedeng Ibalik ng Kongreso ang NEP sa Malacañang, Pero May Mas Mainam na Hakbang
Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the budget, made the suggestion after party leaders in the House of Representatives are seeking to return the NEP to the Palace.
House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno was quoted as saying they may need to “practically redo” the submission and that they do not want to be suspected of any untoward action.
Meanwhile, Lacson noted that if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had not called out Congress in the wake of floods brought by successive cyclones, the mangling of the budget would remain unabated.
Earlier this week, Lacson and fellow legislators red-flagged several items in the NEP that Lacson said exposes collusion between the DPWH and some legislators.
Lacson cited the experience of Senate minority leader Vicente Sotto III where a DPWH representative called his Senate staff shortly after Sotto won the senatorial polls last May. The representative told Sotto’s staff he can propose insertions to the DPWH budget, but Sotto refused.
“Had PBBM not called out Congress after typhoons Crising, Dante and Emong caused a swath of destruction last August, the mangling of the national budget would have remained unabated. The discovery of red flags in the NEP “insertions” exposes collusion between DPWH and legislators,” Lacson noted.
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Lacson: Hindi Pwedeng Ibalik ng Kongreso ang NEP sa Malacañang, Pero May Mas Mainam na Hakbang
Hindi maaaring ibalik ng Kamara sa Malacañang ang National Expenditure Program (NEP) para sa 2026 matapos matuklasan ang mga “mangled” na entries nito, ngunit may mas mainam na opsyon na maaaring gawin, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes.
Ayon kay Lacson, maaaring magsumite ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ng errata sheets at idaan ito sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM) para pag-aralan at i-adopt ng Kongreso.
“BUDGET 101: Congress cannot return the NEP to Malacañang since it is only a budget proposal, not an Enrolled Bill for approval or line-item veto by the President. However, the DPWH through the DBM may submit errata sheets but it is up to Congress to adopt such ‘errata’ or not,” ani Lacson sa post sa X.
Ginawa ni Lacson, na mahigpit na tagabantay ng kaban ng bayan, ang suhestyon matapos ipahayag ng ilang party leaders sa House of Representatives na nais nilang ibalik ang NEP sa Malacañang.
Ani House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, maaaring kailangan nilang “practically redo” ang pagsumite at ayaw nilang masangkot sa anumang hindi kanais-nais na hinala.
Binigyang-diin din ni Lacson na kung hindi tinuligsa ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang Kongreso kaugnay ng pagbaha dulot ng sunud-sunod na bagyo, mananatiling hindi napipigilan ang pagmamanipula ng budget.
Kamakailan lamang ngayong linggo, pinuna ni Lacson at ng ilang kapwa mambabatas ang ilang items sa NEP na, ayon sa kanya, nagpapakita ng sabwatan sa pagitan ng DPWH at ilang mambabatas.
Nabanggit ni Lacson ang karanasan ni Senate minority leader Vicente Sotto III kung saan may tumawag na taga-DPWH sa staff ni Sotto matapos nitong manalo sa eleksyon. Ayon sa taga-DPWH, maaaring magpalista si Sotto ng insertions. Hindi kumagat si Sotto dito.
“Had PBBM not called out Congress after typhoons Crising, Dante and Emong caused a swath of destruction last August, the mangling of the national budget would have remained unabated. The discovery of red flags in the NEP ‘insertions’ exposes collusion between DPWH and legislators,” ani Lacson.
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