Engaging With Budget Advocacy Groups Strengthens Lacson’s Resolve to Protect Public Funds

Engaging with budget advocacy groups at a hearing last Monday has further strengthened Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson’s resolve to protect public funds, even as the hearing left him torn between despair and hope.

Lacson thanked the CSOs for their passion in helping uphold transparency in the budget process as senators cannot spot all the red flags in the budget bill on their own.

In Filipino: Mga Budget Advocacy Group, Nagpatibay sa Paninindigan ni Lacson na Bantayan ang Pondo ng Bayan

“MAAWA NAMAN KAYO! Yesterday’s budget hearing left me torn between despair and hope. Engaging with diverse advocacy groups, both young and old, united as guardrails for public funds was truly inspiring. As a steadfast budget vanguard myself, it has further strengthened my resolve,” he said in a post on X.

MAAWA NAMAN KAYO!
Yesterday’s budget hearing left me torn between despair and hope. Engaging with diverse advocacy groups, both young and old, united as guardrails for public funds was truly inspiring. As a steadfast budget vanguard myself, it has further strengthened my resolve.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) October 27, 2026

Lacson described Monday’s hearing as a paradox, saying the issues raised by the CSO representatives initially made him wonder if there is still hope for the country.

Yet, he said the passion and commitment they showed at the hearing showed there is still much reason to hope for the Philippines, while strengthening the resolve of senators and like-minded legislators who want budget transparency.

“Parang napakalaking paradox para sa akin ang pagdinig. Sa isang banda, after marinig ang inyong hinaing, parang may pagasa ba itong bayan? On the other hand, after hearing their passion and advocacy isipin mo rin malaki ang pagasa ng ating bayan (I sensed a paradox in the hearing. On one end, after hearing the corruption they described, is there still hope for the nation? But after hearing their passion and advocacy, I thought there is still much hope for the nation),” he said.

“Maraming salamat, very informative, maraming nakaka-enlighten at nakakapag-strengthen ng resolve. Malakas ang aming advocacy sa budget gusto naming malinis. Nadagdagan ang aming resolve pagkatapos ng hearing (Thank you, it was very informative and enlightening. It also strengthened our resolve. We already have a strong advocacy for a clean budget, and Monday’s hearing strengthened our resolve),” he added.

Lacson raised the possibility of inviting the CSO representatives to attend bicameral conference committee hearings on the budget bill, to serve as the “cheering squad” of pro-transparency legislators.

“Baka pwedeng imbitahin natin sila, na alam n’yo, pagka maraming cheering squad, medyo mas malakas ang laban (We can invite them in the bicam as a cheering squad so we will have a better chance in upholding transparency),” he said.

Lacson stressed the crucial role of CSOs in helping senators scrutinize the proposed national budget and flag questionable items, especially with the government projecting a P1.695-trillion fiscal deficit and P3.043 trillion in gross borrowings for 2027.

He described the CSOs as a “multiplier effect” in helping senators scrutinize the proposed budget.

“Without you, hindi namin kaya. Magaling ang staff namin pero di kaya i-comb lahat na item sa budget. Kayo ang aming multiplier effect (Without you we cannot do the job. Our staffs are dedicated but they cannot comb through all the items in the budget in a short time. You are our multiplier effect),” he told the CSO representatives.

Lacson also reiterated his proposal to keep livestream cameras running even during suspensions of the proceedings, so the public can see what lawmakers discuss or “whisper” about during breaks.

He underscored the importance of transparency in crafting the budget, especially with the Philippines facing a P1.695-trillion projected fiscal deficit, P3.043 trillion in projected gross borrowings, P1.583 trillion in projected principal amortization, P1.46 trillion in net financing from borrowings, P2.34 trillion in domestic borrowings, and P700 billion in foreign borrowings.

The government is also projecting P1.46 trillion in net financing from borrowings, consisting of P2.34 trillion in domestic borrowings and P700 billion in foreign borrowings. National debt is projected to reach P21.48 trillion in 2027.

Protecting UHC Funds

During the hearing, Lacson also proposed keeping some P311 billion in unreleased earmarked funds for the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act – sourced from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and sin tax proceeds – out of the annual General Appropriations Acts (GAAs) to prevent the funds from being realigned to questionable items.

The CSOs had estimated during the hearing that the unreleased earmarked funds had accumulated to P311 billion since 2022.

Lacson noted that seven years after the UHC Law was passed, the country should have progressed to covering all barangays. Instead, he said implementation has regressed to pilot testing in selected barangays.

“I was asking my lawyer, legislative staff, mas maganda siguro huwag na ipasok sa GAA kasi subject to kalikot. Pag pinasok sa GAA, siyempre pwedeng paglaruan. So siguro an amendment of the UHC law is in order para talagang nandoon na, hindi na ipapasok sa GAA, kasi diyan nagkakaroon ng flexibility ika nga, or abuse for that matter (I was asking my lawyers and legislative staff not to include these in the GAA because they will be subject to realignment. Perhaps an amendment of the UHC law is in order to prevent the funds from being played around with),” he said.

Finance committee chairman Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito said he will take note of Lacson’s proposal.

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Mga Budget Advocacy Group, Nagpatibay sa Paninindigan ni Lacson na Bantayan ang Pondo ng Bayan

Lalong tumatag ang paninindigan ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na protektahan ang pondo ng bayan matapos makipag-ugnayan sa mga budget advocacy group sa isang pagdinig nitong Lunes, kahit na nakadama siya ng magkahalong panghihina ng loob at pag-asa.

Pinasalamatan ni Lacson ang mga civil society organization (CSO) sa kanilang sigasig na makatulong sa pagpapanatili ng transparency sa proseso ng pagbubuo ng badyet, dahil hindi kayang makita ng mga senador ang lahat ng red flag sa panukalang badyet.

Inilarawan ni Lacson bilang isang paradox ang pagdinig nitong Lunes, dahil sa mga isyung inilahad ng mga kinatawan ng CSO ay napaisip siya kung may pag-asa pa ba ang bansa.

Gayunman, sinabi niyang ipinakita ng sigasig at dedikasyon ng mga ito sa kanilang adbokasiya na malaki pa rin ang pag-asa ng Pilipinas. Pinatibay din aniya nito ang paninindigan ng mga senador at kapwa mambabatas na nagsusulong ng transparency sa badyet.

Iminungkahi rin ni Lacson na imbitahan ang mga kinatawan ng CSO sa mga pagdinig ng bicameral conference committee sa panukalang pambansang badyet upang magsilbing “cheering squad” ng mga mambabatas na nagsusulong ng transparency.

“Baka pwedeng imbitahin natin sila, na alam n’yo, pagka maraming cheering squad, medyo mas malakas ang laban,” aniya.

Binigyang-diin ni Lacson ang mahalagang papel ng mga CSO sa pagtulong sa mga senador na busisiin ang panukalang pambansang badyet at tukuyin ang mga kuwestiyonableng item, lalo na’t inaasahan ng pamahalaan ang P1.695 trilyong kakulangan sa badyet at P3.043 trilyong kabuuang pangungutang sa 2027.

Tinawag ni Lacson na “multiplier effect” ang ambag ng mga CSO sa pagsusuri ng mga senador sa panukalang badyet.

“Without you, hindi namin kaya. Magaling ang staff namin pero di kaya i-comb lahat na item sa budget. Kayo ang aming multiplier effect,” sinabi niya sa mga kinatawan ng CSO.

Muli ring iginiit ni Lacson ang panukala niyang panatilihing umaandar ang mga livestream camera kahit nakasuspinde ang mga pagdinig upang makita ng publiko ang mga pinag-uusapan o “binubulong” ng mga mambabatas habang may break.

Binigyang-diin niya ang kahalagahan ng transparency sa pagbuo ng pambansang badyet, lalo’t inaasahang aabot sa P1.695 trilyon ang kakulangan sa badyet ng Pilipinas sa 2027, habang P3.043 trilyon naman ang kabuuang pangungutang. Inaasahan ding aabot sa P1.583 trilyon ang pambayad sa principal ng utang at P1.46 trilyon ang netong pondong magmumula sa pangungutang. Nakatakda sa P2.34 trilyon ang domestic borrowings at P700 bilyon ang foreign borrowings.

Inaasahang aabot naman sa P21.48 trilyon ang pambansang utang sa 2027.

Pagprotekta sa Pondo para sa Universal Health Care

Sa pagdinig, iminungkahi rin ni Lacson na huwag nang isama sa taunang General Appropriations Act (GAA) ang tinatayang P311 bilyong pondong nakalaan para sa Universal Health Care (UHC) Act ngunit hindi pa naipalalabas, upang maiwasan ang paglilipat ng mga ito sa mga kuwestiyonableng paggagamitan.

Kabilang sa pinagmumulan ng mga pondong ito ang Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), at mga nalilikom mula sa buwis sa mga produktong may kaugnayan sa kalusugan, o *sin tax*. Ayon sa pagtataya ng mga CSO sa pagdinig, umabot na sa P311 bilyon mula pa noong 2022 ang naipong pondong nakalaan ngunit hindi pa naipalalabas.

Sinabi ni Lacson na pitong taon matapos maipasa ang UHC Law, dapat ay umusad na ang bansa tungo sa pagsaklaw sa lahat ng barangay. Sa halip, aniya, bumalik sa pilot testing sa mga piling barangay ang pagpapatupad nito.

Sinabi naman ni Senate finance committee chairman Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito na tatandaan niya ang panukala ni Lacson.

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