With safeguards among others in place and with continued public vigilance, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson holds high hopes that the 2026 budget will help bring positive change for Filipinos.
Lacson lauded the Senate panel in the bicameral conference committee led by Senate finance committee Sherwin Gatchalian for fighting for the safeguards and transparency measures the Senate has inserted.
“Amid all the disinformation and unreasonable criticisms, we have all the reasons to be proud of our Senate panel under the leadership of our Finance Chair Senator Win. I give my two thumbs up from start to finish,” Lacson said.
“We do not live in a perfect world, much less in an ideal situation, so we cannot be perfectionists and idealistic given the circumstances. That’s why adjustments must be made both ways,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Umaasang Safeguards sa 2026 Budget at Pagmamatyag vs Abuso, Tutulong sa Pagdulot ng Pagbabago
Among the safeguards the Senate put in place were:
* Absolutely no guarantee letters allowed and any form of ‘epal’ for all ‘ayudas’;
* Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) should be implemented strictly under the auspices of Universal Health Care program and in pursuit of complying with the UHC law;
* Monthly oversight on infra and FMR projects implementation, complete with grid coordinates for easy monitoring by media and the public
Lacson also reiterated his call to the public to join him and like-minded lawmakers in remaining vigilant against abuses of public funds, even after the budget is ratified by Congress and signed into law by the President.
“As long as we all remain vigilant in guarding against abuse of public funds, we can always remain hopeful that things can change for the better,” he said.
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Lacson, Umaasang Safeguards sa 2026 Budget at Pagmamatyag vs Abuso, Tutulong sa Pagdulot ng Pagbabago
Kung kasama ang mga safeguards at iba pang safety measures, at patuloy na pagbabantay laban sa pag-abuso sa kaban ng bayan, mataas ang pag-asa ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na makatutulong ang 2026 budget sa pagdadala ng positibong pagbabago para sa mga Pilipino.
Pinuri ni Lacson ang Senate panel sa bicameral conference committee na pinamunuan ng Senate finance committee chairman na si Sherwin Gatchalian dahil sa paninindigan nito para sa mga pananggalang at transparency measures na ipinasok ng Senado.
“Amid all the disinformation and unreasonable criticisms, we have all the reasons to be proud of our Senate panel under the leadership of our Finance Chair Senator Win. I give my two thumbs up from start to finish,” ani Lacson.
“We do not live in a perfect world, much less in an ideal situation, so we cannot be perfectionists and idealistic given the circumstances. That’s why adjustments must be made both ways,” dagdag niya.
Kabilang sa mga pananggalang na inilagay ng Senado ang mga sumusunod:
* Mahigpit na pagbabawal sa anumang guarantee letters at lahat ng anyo ng epal sa lahat ng ayuda;
* Ang Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) ay dapat ipatupad nang mahigpit sa ilalim ng Universal Health Care (UHC) program at alinsunod sa UHC law;
* Buwanang oversight sa pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong pang-imprastruktura at farm-to-market roads (FMR), kabilang ang paglalagay ng grid coordinates upang madaling masubaybayan ng media at publiko.
Muli ring nanawagan si Lacson sa publiko na makiisa sa kanya at sa mga kapwa mambabatas na kapareho ng pananaw upang manatiling mapagbantay laban sa pang-aabuso sa pondo ng bayan, kahit matapos iratipika ng Kongreso ang badyet at lagdaan ito bilang batas ng Pangulo.
“As long as we all remain vigilant in guarding against abuse of public funds, we can always remain hopeful that things can change for the better,” aniya.
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