Category: Interpellation

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Lacson Proposes Constitutional Fix to BARMM Polls Measure

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday proposed a fix to address a potential constitutional infirmity in a bill proposing the scheduling of elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

While Lacson pointed out that he does not object to Senate Bill 1823, he cited a possible issue involving the constitutional mandate for synchronized national and local elections.

“At the outset, let me clarify that I am not objecting to the measure under consideration. Rather, this is a manifestation of concern, particularly on a potential Constitutional infirmity,” he said in his interpellation of the Senate bill.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nagmungkahi ng Pag-amyenda upang Matugunan ang Posibleng Isyung Konstitusyonal sa Panukalang Halalan sa BARMM

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Lacson Pushes Safeguards to Prevent a ‘Napoles’ in Classroom-Building Bill

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pushed for safeguards to make sure that a bill seeking to accelerate the construction of classrooms and school buildings will not be marred by conflict of interest – or worse, create another “Napoles.”

Lacson emphasized that while he fully supports the initiative to accelerate the construction of classrooms and school buildings, there are issues on the extent of participation of non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups (CSOs) that need to be resolved.

“If we involve NGOs and they will actively participate in bidding, monitoring, etc., (there is the) conflict of interest. Probably (we can include a) caveat, that provided they will not monitor themselves. At the proper time maybe we can use the proper language to clarify that particular issue. But I have no objection to allowing NGOs to be active partners in the school building program of the government,” he said in his interpellation Wednesday of Senate Bill 1482 authored by Sen. Bam Aquino.

In Filipino: Lacson: Kailangan ang Safeguards Para Hindi Maulit ang ‘Napoles’ sa Classroom-Building Bill

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Lacson Pushes Rehab Fund for LGUs Hit by Back-to-Back Typhoons, Seeks Disaster Needs Reports

To ensure a responsive, data-driven budget that will facilitate the rehabilitation of areas battered by back-to-back Typhoons Tino and Uwan earlier this year, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pressed for ground-validated disaster assessment reports from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

During his interpellation of the Department of National Defense’s proposed 2026 budget, Lacson requested copies of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and Rapid Damage Needs Assessment (RDANA) to guide lawmakers in crafting the needed amendments.

He pointed out that Malacanang, through Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, formally requested funding in the 2026 budget to assist the local government units (LGUs) concerned in their rehabilitation efforts.

“The Senate, and Congress for that matter, cannot simply introduce amendments under the Senate version and even during the bicameral conference committee without getting data on the ground,” he said in his interpellation.

“We will try to avoid lump sum appropriations. Because when we realign some appropriations (for the Local Government Support Fund) because the request was to augment the LGSF, (so that) local government units on their own can rehabilitate and recover,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Isinulong ang Pondo para sa Rehabilitasyon ng LGUs na Tinamaan ng Magkasunod na Bagyo

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With Lacson Intervention, LTO Cordillera Office to be ‘Squatter’ No More in 2026

“Squatters” no more. This is the expected status of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)’s Cordillera Administrative Region by 2026, following the intervention of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.

Lacson revealed that despite having its own property where it can build a permanent facility, the LTO-CAR has been forced to “squat” or rent space from other agencies due to lack of funding.

“Ang LTO-CAR, wala silang permanent office… Ang regional office ng LTO sa CAR meron silang lupa. Meron silang pwedeng pagtayuan. I submitted a recommendation to the chairman of the finance committee kung pwedeng mapondohan (The LTO-CAR has no permanent office. But the regional office has a piece of property on which it can build the facility. I submitted a recommendation to the chairman of the finance committee for funding),” he said at his interpellation of the LTO’s 2026 budget on Thursday.

“Kumpleto po sila. Meron nang program of work, meron nang plano, lahat. Hindi lang nasama sa NEP (The proposed office has the needed program of work and other plans. Unfortunately, it was not included in the National Expenditure Program for 2026),” he added.

In Filipino: Sa Tulong ni Lacson, LTO Cordillera Office Aahon na sa Pagiging ‘Squatter’

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Designed to ‘Confuse and Corrupt’? Lacson Flags ‘Duplicate’ Projects in DPWH’s 2025 Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday evening flagged several “duplicate” projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in its corruption-filled 2025 budget, which he said could have been designed to “confuse and corrupt.”

In his interpellation of the DPWH’s budget for 2026, Lacson noted these duplicates were under the Convergence and Special Support Program (CSSP), which were “significantly bloated every year” from 2023 to 2025.

“Bakit ito palaging bloated every year? Significant ang kanyang pagtaas (Why is the CSSP bloated every year? And the increases are significant),” he said.

Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, who sponsored the DPWH budget, replied that these increases are “mostly congressional.”

In FIlipino: Designed to ‘Confuse and Corrupt’? Lacson, Sinita ang mga ‘Duplicate’ Projects sa 2025 Budget ng DPWH

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