Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pushed late Monday for clear and foolproof safeguards to prevent abuse and political patronage, especially in at least three contentious issues in the P6.793-trillion proposed budget for 2026.
Lacson said there must be no political interference in the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), funding for farm-to-market roads, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s request to restore cuts in its budget.
“Some special provisions have been prepared to address the issues. We are studying the safeguards now. I am looking for ways to ensure these safeguards will be foolproof, that they will not be exploited by politicians,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on One News late Monday. “Safeguards are important to me, to make sure public funds in the budget do not go to corruption. That is the bottom line for me.”
“I made it clear that unless I see the safeguards are foolproof, I may go along with the minority if they will not sign to ratify the budget bill,” he added. “We have our own advocacies. Some advocate education and health. My advocacy is to fix the budget.”
In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Malinaw at ‘Foolproof’ na Safeguards vs Abuso at Political Patronage sa 2026 Budget Bill
On Sunday, Lacson said he would not sign to ratify the budget bill if the provisions granting massive amounts to the MAIFIP and potentially unvetted farm-to-market roads are not corrected.
He noted the MAIFIP, which involves guarantee letters issued by lawmakers and politicians, is one culprit that prevents the UHC program from covering all barangays.
“The implementation of health care must be politically blind and objective,” he said of the government’s health program, adding lawmakers’ roles are limited to crafting the budget and not implementing it.
Lacson said he and fellow senators in the majority bloc agreed that there should “absolutely” be no guarantee letters, and that additional funds should go to the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to address people’s health needs.
Also, Lacson said the Senate adopted his “anti-epal” amendment to block and penalize political involvement in the distribution of aid, and placed it under the general provision of its version of the budget bill so it will be all-encompassing, including not just MAIFIP but also other forms of aid including AICS.
On the issue of farm-to-market roads, Lacson said they are studying additional safeguards to ensure the integrity of the projects. “This should be based on data. Projects should not be identified by lawmakers. But there should be more. We are looking into additional safeguards to ensure the integrity of the farm-to-market roads,” he said.
As for the DPWH’s request to restore its budget cut, Lacson said the DPWH must clarify that it erred in its computations, as the Senate merely cut the DPWH’s 2026 budget based on its earlier pronouncements.
Lacson also questioned why DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon was invited to the bicameral conference committee meeting Sunday – an unprecedented move that he said virtually turned the proceeding to a committee hearing.
Lacson said both houses of Congress must find a middle ground to prevent a reenacted budget, and do what is right even when “threatened.”
He cited information indicating House leaders face “threats” if they do not accommodate the individual amendments of some House members. “If you find it hard to strike a balance, do what is right,” he said.
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Lacson, Itinulak ang Malinaw at ‘Foolproof’ na Safeguards vs Abuso at Political Patronage sa 2026 Budget Bill
Kailangang may malinaw at foolproof na safeguards upang maiwasan ang abuso at political patronage, partikular sa hindi bababa sa tatlong kontrobersyal na isyu sa panukalang ₱6.793-trilyong badyet para sa 2026, giit ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.
Ani Lacson, dapat ay walang anumang political interference sa Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), sa pondo para sa farm-to-market roads, at sa kahilingan ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na ibalik ang mga ibinawas sa kanilang badyet.
“May nai-prepare na special provision patungkol dito. Pinagaaralan namin. Ako, pinagaaralan ko kung foolproof ang safeguards na walang pakialam ang pulitiko,” ani Lacson sa sang panayam sa One News nitong Lunes ng hapon. “Safeguard ang importante sa akin para siguradong hindi maloloko ang gamit ng perang sa GAA. Yan ang bottom line sa akin.”
“Nagsabi ako na unless nakita kong malinaw ang safeguards, I will go along with the minority if they will not sign the ratification ng budget, hindi ako pipirma ng ratification,” dagdag niya. “May kanya-kanya tayong advocacy. May advocacy ang health, may advocacy ang education. Ako advocacy ko talaga ayusin ang budget.”
Noong Linggo, sinabi ni Lacson na hindi siya pipirma para sa ratipikasyon ng budget bill kung hindi itatama ang mga probisyong nagbibigay ng malalaking halaga sa MAIFIP at sa mga posibleng maanomalyang farm-to-market roads.
Tinukoy niya ang MAIFIP — na may kinalaman sa mga guarantee letter na iniisyu ng mga mambabatas at pulitiko — bilang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit hindi ganap na naaabot ng Universal Health Care (UHC) program ang lahat ng barangay.
“Dapat very objective at bulag, walang political color ang mag-implement nito,” aniya tungkol sa health program ng gobyerno, at iginiit na ang papel ng mga mambabatas ay limitado lamang sa pagbalangkas ng badyet at hindi sa pagpapatupad nito.
Ayon kay Lacson, nagkaisa sila ng mga kapwa senador sa majority bloc na dapat ay walang guarantee letters, at ang karagdagang pondo ay dapat mapunta sa Department of Health at Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) upang tugunan ang pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng mamamayan.
Dagdag pa niya, in-adopt ng Senado ang kanyang “anti-epal” amendment upang hadlangan at parusahan ang political involvement sa pamamahagi ng tulong, at isinama ito sa general provisions ng bersyon ng Senado ng budget bill upang masaklaw hindi lamang ang MAIFIP kundi pati ang iba pang anyo ng ayuda gaya ng AICS.
Sa isyu naman ng farm-to-market roads, sinabi ni Lacson na pinag-aaralan pa ang mga karagdagang safeguards upang masiguro ang integridad ng mga proyekto. “Kailangan based sa data, hindi identified ng congressman. Kulang pa. Pinagaaralan pa namin anong additional safeguards para integrity ng farm-to-market roads ay mapangalagaan,” aniya.
Tungkol naman sa kahilingan ng DPWH na maibalik ang ibinawas sa kanilang badyet, sinabi ni Lacson na kailangang linawin ng ahensya na nagkamali ito sa kanilang mga computation, dahil ibinatay lamang ng Senado ang pagbabawas sa mga nauna nilang pahayag.
Kinuwestiyon din ni Lacson kung bakit inimbitahan si DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon sa bicameral conference committee meeting noong Linggo—isang hakbang na aniya’y walang precedent at halos ginawa nang committee hearing ang naturang pulong.
Binigyang-diin ni Lacson na kailangang maghanap ng gitnang solusyon ang dalawang kapulungan ng Kongreso upang maiwasan ang reenacted budget, at gawin ang tama kahit pa may diumanong banta.
Tinukoy niya ang impormasyong nagsasabing humaharap umano ang ilang lider ng Kamara sa mga banta kung hindi nila pagbibigyan ang individual amendments ng ilang mambabatas. “Pag nahirapan kang mag-balance doon ka na lang sa tama para di ka maligaw. Do what is right,” aniya.
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