We stand four-square behind the efforts of the Senate panel behind Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to uphold full transparency in the 2026 budget bill.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this Tuesday amid another issue that surfaced, this time involving farm-to-market (FMR) road projects that were not properly identified.
He said this came as two other issues involving the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s appeal to restore its budget cuts are nearing a resolution after DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon apologized to the Senate for submitting “insufficient data” during the bicameral deliberations.
“With equal urgency and importance is the new FMR issue raised by Sen. Francis Pangilinan. At least P5 billion worth of FMR projects are not properly identified, even revised from what the Senate approved on third reading: no grid coordinates, description, etc. Based on our majority caucus yesterday, we cannot and will not allow that. For the sake of full transparency, we stand four-square behind our panel under the leadership of its chairman, Sen. Gatchalian,” Lacson said.
In Filipino: Lacson: Buo ang Suporta sa Senate Panel para Itaguyod ang Ganap na Transparency sa Budget Bill
In an interview on GTV’s Balitanghali, Lacson said the Department of Agriculture (DA) must explain the issue and correct it, so lawmakers can finish the bicameral conference committee proceedings on time.
He cited initial information showing the DA does not know where the questionable P5 billion in FMR items came from – thus raising the possibility of corruption rearing its head anew in the budget bill.
“Where did the new items come from? This might be another case of corruption. The public is still angry over the anomalous flood control projects, yet there seems to be an attempt to circumvent this by inserting funds into other infrastructure projects,” he said in Filipino in the GTV interview.
Lacson stressed both houses of Congress must weed out all signs of corruption in the 2026 budget bill, even if it means longer deliberations and a reenacted 2025 budget for the early part of 2026.
“My position is – Better a reenacted budget in January or even in the entire first quarter of 2026 than an unchecked, corruption-conducive and worse, graft-ridden GAA. Most of my colleagues, at least in the majority bloc share the same sentiment,” he said.
As for the issue involving the DPWH’s appeal to restore its budget, Lacson said, “whatever we decide as the Senate, at least by the majority, will be conveyed to the House through the Senate panel.”
“There should be no new items inserted into the budget. Otherwise, the floodgates will be opened to insertions, and we in the Senate will not allow that,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lacson suggested that those taking part in the bicameral conference committee uphold transparency further by disclosing their discussions during suspensions in the deliberations.
He said many netizens have commented that amid the livestreaming, they do not know what went on behind the cameras when the talks were suspended.
“It would be better if they suspended the discussions but divulge what was discussed behind the cameras, to uphold transparency,” he said.
Still, Lacson said he is heartened that he is no longer alone in crusading to reform the budget, noting that the Senate under Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian has undertaken reforms including livestreaming the proceedings including the bicameral conference committee.
“At the end of the day, I am happy that under the 20th Congress and under the leadership of Senate President Sotto, I am no longer on a lonesome and lonely crusade to reform the national budget,” he said.
“It’s about time. This is our opportunity, especially now that the public is aware and angry over corruption. We must not waste it,” he added.
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Lacson: Buo ang Suporta sa Senate Panel para Itaguyod ang Ganap na Transparency sa Budget Bill
Buong-buo naming sinusuportahan ang mga pagsisikap ng Senate panel sa pangunguna ni Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian upang itaguyod ang ganap na transparency sa 2026 budget bill.
Binigyang-diin ito ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes, kasunod ng panibagong isyung lumutang sa budget bill na may kinalaman sa mga farm-to-market road (FMR) projects na hindi maayos na na-identify.
Ani Lacson, kasabay nito ang paglapit sa resolusyon ng dalawang iba pang isyu na may kinalaman sa Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) at sa apela ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na maibalik ang ibinawas sa kanilang badyet, matapos humingi ng paumanhin si DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon sa Senado dahil sa pagsusumite ng “insufficient data” sa bicameral deliberations.
“With equal urgency and importance is the new FMR issue raised by Sen. Francis Pangilinan. At least P5 billion worth of FMR projects are not properly identified, even revised from what the Senate approved on third reading: no grid coordinates, description, etc. Based on our majority caucus yesterday, we cannot and will not allow that. For the sake of full transparency, we stand four-square behind our panel under the leadership of its chairman, Sen. Gatchalian,” diin ni Lacson.
Sa panayam sa Balitanghali ng GTV, sinabi ni Lacson na dapat ipaliwanag at itama ng Department of Agriculture (DA) ang isyu upang matapos ng mga mambabatas sa tamang oras ang bicameral conference committee proceedings.
Binanggit niya ang mga paunang impormasyong nagpapakitang hindi alam ng DA kung saan nagmula ang kuwestiyonableng ₱5 bilyong FMR items—na nagbubukas ng posibilidad na muling pumasok ang katiwalian sa budget bill.
“Saan galing ang bagong items? Kalokohan na naman yan. Parang umiwas sa flood control projects, meron na namang ibang, na-circumvent na naman, iba namang proyekto naman ang pwedeng pagkakitaan,” ani Lacson sa panayam sa GTV.
Iginiit ni Lacson na kailangang alisin ng parehong kapulungan ng Kongreso ang lahat ng palatandaan ng katiwalian sa 2026 budget bill, kahit pa magresulta ito sa mas mahabang deliberasyon at isang reenacted 2025 budget sa unang bahagi ng 2026.
“My position is – Better a reenacted budget in January or even in the entire first quarter of 2026 than an unchecked, corruption-conducive and worse, graft-ridden GAA. Most of my colleagues, at least in the majority bloc share the same sentiment,” aniya.
Tungkol naman sa isyu ng apela ng DPWH na maibalik ang ibinawas sa kanilang badyet, sinabi ni Lacson na “whatever we decide as the Senate, at least by the majority, will be conveyed to the House through the Senate panel.”
“Kailangan walang bagong items na papasok otherwise ma-open ang floodgates doon na naman sa insertion na di namin papayagan din,” dagdag pa niya.
Samantala, iminungkahi ni Lacson na higit pang isulong ang transparency sa bicameral conference committee sa pamamagitan ng paglalantad ng mga napag-uusapan tuwing may suspension sa deliberations.
Aniya, marami sa mga netizens ang nagkomento na kahit may livestream, hindi malinaw kung ano ang napag-uusapan kapag naka-off camera ang mga pag-uusap.
“Maganda ang maski mag-suspend ang pinagusapan behind the cameras, i-divulge din nila. Ito napagusapan namin during suspension, pero ginagawa naming on record at naka-livestream ang aming pinagusapan kanina para mas maliwanag,” aniya.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Lacson na ikinatutuwa niyang hindi na siya nag-iisa sa pagsusulong ng reporma sa badyet, at binanggit na ang Senado sa ilalim ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III at ni Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian ay nagsagawa na ng mga reporma, kabilang ang pagla-livestream ng mga pagdinig, pati na ang bicameral conference committee.
“At the end of the day, I am happy that under the 20th Congress and under the leadership of Senate President Sotto, I am no longer on a lonesome and lonely crusade to reform the national budget,” aniya.
“It’s about time. Kasi ito na ang opportune time. Wala nang ibang panahon kung saan namulat ang kababayan natin, naglabas ng galit at lahat, huwag na natin palampasin yan. Opportunity natin ito. Huwag natin i-lose ang opportunity na ito,” dagdag niya.
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