Category: Interpellation

Posted on

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’

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

Posted on

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

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

Posted on

Lacson Revives Proposal to Merge State TV Networks to Save Costs, Improve Public Service

To save on subsidies while improving public service, why not revive a plan to integrate the government’s two television networks?

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson raised this Tuesday during the deliberations of the 2026 budget of the Presidential Communications Office, including state TV networks People’s Television Network (PTV) and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC).

“During the time of then Sec. Sonny Coloma under the presidency of the late President Benigno Aquino III, there was a plan to integrate the (then) three government TV stations and convert the same into a public service broadcaster in the mold of the British Broadcasting Co. This is also budget-related (because) it could save the government from providing subsidy to the stations,” Lacson said. “I think it’s worth studying and considering.”

In Filipino: Lacson, Ibinuhay ang Panukalang Pagsamahin ang State TV Networks para Makatipid at Mapahusay ang Public Service

Continue reading “Lacson Revives Proposal to Merge State TV Networks to Save Costs, Improve Public Service”

Posted on

Lacson Intervention Leads to Restoration of AMLC’s 2026 Budget

Following the intervention by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, the Senate finance committee has restored the proposed budget of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for 2026 to P333 million.

Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian informed Lacson that the AMLC’s budget was restored to P333 million in the Senate version of the budget bill, from the P170.161 million allotted for it in the National Expenditure Program.

“We granted the request of AMLC upon your recommendation during the budget deliberations. Remember, you strongly recommended to increase the budget of AMLC considering what’s happening right now. So the new budget of AMLC is P333 million,” Gatchalian said, after Lacson inquired about the restoration of the AMLC’s budget during the deliberation of the agency’s 2026 budget Monday.

“Thank you, Mr. President,” Lacson replied.

In Filipino: Sa Tulong ni Lacson, ‘Restored’ ang 2026 Budget ng AMLC

Continue reading “Lacson Intervention Leads to Restoration of AMLC’s 2026 Budget”

Posted on

Lacson Pushes Maximizing LGUs’ Participation in Crafting Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday pushed anew for maximizing the participation of local government units (LGUs) in the crafting of the national budget, with their priority programs and activities getting a bigger share of the budget pie.

Lacson said that while only 35 percent of projects endorsed by regional development councils are accommodated in the National Expenditure Program, he is hoping this can be enhanced to up to 60 percent.

“(Our effort) is to get them involved in the preparation of the NEP, maximize their participation. In fact the President himself issued Executive Order 82 strengthening and enhancing the participation of regional development councils. And the RDCs rely heavily on local development councils,” he said in his interpellation of the proposed 2026 budget for the DILG’s Support to Local Governance Program.

“Sa ngayon we’re still at 35% of the entire NEP sa budget call. Ang pumapasok sa NEP sa mga 35% output ng RDCs. We want to further enhance that makarating man lang ng 50-60% (For now only 35% of the projects endorsed by the regional development councils are accommodated in the NEP. We want to further enhance that to 50-60%),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Mas Malaking Papel para sa LGU sa Pagbuo ng Budget

Continue reading “Lacson Pushes Maximizing LGUs’ Participation in Crafting Budget”