Tag: 2026 budget

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Lacson Pushes Private Sector Help in Addressing Floods, Continues Own Probe into Ghost Flood Projects

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson over the weekend pushed for the all-out help of the private sector in addressing the flooding problem, even as he continues his own probe into failed and ghost flood control projects that have cost taxpayers more than P2 trillion in the last 15 years.

Lacson said the offer of San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang to do a cleanup of rivers and other waterways at no cost to government may be an opportunity for Malacanang to appeal to the corporate social responsibility of other big companies.

In the meantime, Lacson said he is continuing his own investigation into failed and ghost flood control projects, including new modus operandi involved.

“SMC’s Ramon Ang has offered to solve the recurring flood problems in Metro Manila at no cost to the government. He said he only needs authorization. Imagine if the country’s richest families will pool their CSR (corporate social responsibility) resources together and do what government spends hundreds of billions on in tax money every fiscal year, but seems to fail to deliver. It may be a little out of the box, but why not?” he said in a post on his X account Saturday evening.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nais ang Tulong ng Pribadong Sektor vs Baha, Habang Patuloy ang Pag-imbestiga sa Ghost Flood Projects

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Lacson Pushes Open Bicam, Longer ‘Review’ Period for Budget Bill

Opening the bicameral conference committee proceedings on the national budget to the public may not fully prevent the insertion of “pork barrel” funds, but it would certainly help pinpoint the lawmakers who attempt to do so, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the “Open Bicam” that he and fellow lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives are pushing will be a big step towards transparency in the budget process.

Also, he pushed for longer periods for the Senate to review the House’s amendments to the National Expenditure Program, and for Congress to review and revise the budget bill if the President vetoes it.

“It is still possible that some insertions could be made, but at least we can identify those who did so for their projects. We can track the differences between the General Appropriations Bill and the National Expenditure Program, with the public observing and with minutes and transcripts of the proceedings,” he said in Filipino in an interview on Bombo Radyo Philippines.

“For their part, lawmakers will think twice before making insertions or realignments because they can be identified,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Open Bicam, Sapat na ‘Review’ Period para sa Budget Bill

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Ping Lacson to Fellow Lawmakers: Take Cue from President’s SONA Warnings on Budget, Flood Control

Members of both houses of Congress should take their cue from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Mahiya naman kayo” pronouncement in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) regarding anomalies in the government’s flood control programs and in the national budget.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this on Tuesday even as he said the President’s order to inventory flood control programs to see which are failures and ghost projects – as well as finding anomalous items in the budget bill – may be “tedious but workable.”

“The President capped his SONA with a pronouncement that he knows will hit his audience – that’s us lawmakers… The pronouncement that those involved in anomalies in the flood control programs and the national budget should be ashamed should cut to the bone. Those who don’t feel any shame would simply be bad to the bone,” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson sa Kapwa Mambabatas: Bigyang Pansin ang Patama ng Pangulo sa SONA Tungkol sa Budget at Flood Control

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Ping Lacson Applauds President’s Anti-Corruption Stance on Flood Control Projects, Budget in SONA

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday applauded President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s stance against the corruption that plagued the government’s flood control projects, as well as the potential corruption in the 2026 national budget, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Lacson said his favorite quote from the President’s fourth SONA was the one where he told those involved in the corruption in flood control projects to be ashamed of what they did.

“My favorite quote from the President’s 4th State of the Nation Address: MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO!” Lacson said. “I clapped the loudest and the longest when he mentioned about the graft-ridden flood control projects, even calling for an accounting of the same while holding accountable those responsible, whether government officials or private contractors.”

“I clapped even louder when the President announced that he will return the 2026 budget bill passed by Congress not aligned with the National Expenditure Program. That would make my scrutiny of the General Appropriations Bill easier with less insertions and realignments,” Lacson added.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson, Pinalakpakan ang Anti-Corruption Stance ni PBBM sa Flood Control Projects at Budget sa SONA

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Ping Lacson: PH Cannot Tolerate Any More Mangling of the Budget

The country cannot tolerate any more mangling of the national budget, much less unabated mangling.

On this note, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson aired support Wednesday for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s moves to prevent insertions in the proposed P6.793-trillion budget for 2026.

“I couldn’t agree more with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. The country cannot anymore tolerate unabated mangling of the National Expenditure Program which presumably has undergone months of preparation and consultations with the local government units and concerned agencies before being transmitted to Congress, (and if mangled) may not be responsive to the short and medium term development goals of the national government,” stressed Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson: Hindi Na Pwedeng Payagan ang Pagwasak sa Pambansang Budget

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