Accommodating the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s request to restore items cut from its proposed budget for 2026 could potentially reopen the floodgates to insertions, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson warned on Sunday.
Lacson said that if the items the DPWH is seeking to restore are not in the Senate and House versions of the budget bill, neither house can act on it as they agreed to tackle only their disagreeing provisions in the bicameral conference committee.
“If the DPWH appeals to restore its budget and the items it seeks are not in the House and Senate versions, it may open the floodgates to insert items that are not in either version,” he said in a mix of English and FIlipino in an interview on DZBB radio.
“In the bicam, if the items they want restored are not in the House and Senate versions, we would be violating our agreement to tackle only the disagreeing provisions, and the door would be open to insertions,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Pag-Restore ng Budget Cuts ng DPWH, Maaaring Maging Daan sa Pagbalik ng Insertions
Dizon had asked the Senate to restore the deducted amounts from projects in the DPWH’s 2026 budget because of reductions in the Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD).
But Lacson pointed out the DPWH can ask Malacanang for assistance if it needs additional funds for its programs, activities and projects, as Malacanang can realign funds from the Special Purpose Fund (SPF).
“That is the SPF’s purpose. The President can realign funds if there are savings. The DPWH can ask for additional funds there,” he said.
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Lacson: Pag-Restore ng Budget Cuts ng DPWH, Maaaring Maging Daan sa Pagbalik ng Insertions
Kung pagbibigyan ang hiling ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na maibalik ang mga tinapyas na item sa panukalang badyet nito para sa 2026, maaari itong maging daan sa pagbalik ng mga insertion, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ngayong Linggo.
Ani Lacson, kung ang mga item na nais ibalik ng DPWH ay wala sa bersyon ng Senado at Kamara ng panukalang badyet, hindi maaaring umaksyon ang alinmang kapulungan dito dahil napagkasunduan nilang ang mga disagreeing provisions lamang ang tatalakayin sa bicameral conference committee.
“Pag nag-apela sila at wala naman sa House or Senate version, mag-o-open na naman yan ng floodgates para mag-insert ng kung anu-ano na wala sa either version,” aniya sa panayam sa DZBB radio.
“Sa bicam, kung wala sa House at wala sa Senate version, iva-violate namin ang pinagkasunduang disagreeing provisions lang ang aming gagalawin. Papasok na naman ang insertion,” dagdag niya.
Nauna nang humiling si Dizon sa Senado na ibalik ang mga binawas na halaga sa mga proyekto sa badyet ng DPWH para sa 2026 dahil sa mga pagbawas na dulot ng Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD).
Gayunman, ipinunto ni Lacson na maaari namang humingi ng tulong ang DPWH sa Malacañang kung kailangan nito ng karagdagang pondo para sa mga programa, aktibidad at proyekto, dahil may kakayahan ang Malacañang na mag-realign ng pondo mula sa Special Purpose Fund (SPF).
“Yan ang purpose ng SPF na kung saan may savings sa ibang items o programa pwedeng mag-realign ang pangulo. Doon sila humingi ng pangdagdag,” ani Lacson.
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