Tag: 2026 budget

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Lacson to Closely Scrutinize DPWH Budget Realignments, Including ‘Ayuda’

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will closely scrutinize the realignments made in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s proposed budget for 2026, particularly those introduced in the House of Representatives for “ayuda” programs.

Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget, said this Wednesday after noting that at least P46 billion of the DPWH’s budget was realigned to “ayuda” programs.

“We expect the House version of the General Appropriations Bill to be transmitted to us soon. We will compare this House version of the budget bill with the National Expenditure Program to check which items got a spike in funding,” he said in Filipino in an interview on True FM.

In Filipino: Lacson: Bubusisiin ang DPWH Budget Realignments, Kabilang ang Para sa ‘Ayuda’

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Lacson to Help Augment AMLC’s ‘Crumb-Sized’ Budget for 2026

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will help the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and at least three other agencies get the funding they need to fight money laundering and corruption.

At the hearing of the Committee on Finance tackling the proposed budgets of the four agencies, Lacson sought the capacity building particularly of the AMLC, even as he lamented they are getting “crumbs” in the NEP.

“The agencies in front of us, they are recipients of ‘crumbs’ in the budget, at least in the NEP,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino at the hearing that also tackled the proposed 2026 budgets of the Anti-Red Tape Authority, Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations and Philippine Competition Commission.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tutulong Palakasin ang ‘Latak’ na Badyet ng AMLC para sa 2026

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Lacson: Senate Leadership Change Won’t Slow Budget Hearings

The change of leadership in the Senate will not affect or slow down the hearings of the Senate committee on finance, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson assured on Tuesday.

Lacson said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian will stay as chairman of the Finance Committee that is handling the hearings on the proposed 2026 national budget.

“Hindi. Mananatili siyang chairman. After all, part siya ng bagong majority so hindi maalis sa kanya ang finance committee (Sen. Gatchalian will remain as chairman of the Senate finance committee. After all, he is part of the new majority),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio, when asked if there will be changes in the chairmanship of the said committee.

In Filipino: Lacson: Leadership Change sa Senado, Hindi Makakaapekto sa Budget Hearings

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Lacson Names DPWH Exec in Early Budget Insertions

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday named an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as the one who allegedly called up and invited at least one lawmaker to make early insertions in the proposed national budget for 2026.

Lacson said a caller claiming to be “Undersecretary Cabral” called up a staff member of Senate minority leader Vicente Sotto III shortly after the May 2025 senatorial elections and asked them to propose what they want to insert in the National Expenditure Program for 2026.

“One ‘Undersecretary Cabral’ called Sotto’s staff and told them to insert what they wanted to insert. If Sen. Sotto was one of those called by that executive, who else could have been contacted similarly and submitted their proposed insertions?” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“Sen. Sotto told me he did not submit anything because we are advocating transparency and good governance. The question now is, how many members of the House and Senate made insertions?” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Pinangalanan ang DPWH Exec sa Maagang Budget Insertions

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Lacson: Congress Can’t Return NEP to Palace, But Smarter Option Available

The House of Representatives cannot return the National Expenditure Program for 2026 to Malacanang over the “mangled” entries there, but there is a better option available, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) can submit errata sheets through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for Congress’ consideration.

“BUDGET 101: Congress cannot return the NEP to Malacañang since it is only a budget proposal, not an Enrolled Bill for approval or line-item veto by the President. However, the DPWH through the DBM may submit errata sheets but it is up to Congress to adopt such ‘errata’ or not,” he said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Pwedeng Ibalik ng Kongreso ang NEP sa Malacañang, Pero May Mas Mainam na Hakbang

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