Tag: 2026 budget

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Lacson Red-Flags P51.82B ‘Distinct’ Insertions in 2026 NEP, Pushes Realignment

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday flagged at least P51.82 billion worth of vague, “distinct” insertions in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), and is targeting them for realignment to programs consistent with the Philippine Medium-Term Development Plan.

Lacson said these flagged items are for flood management programs for Metro Manila and Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), and 3 (Central Luzon).

He said he and Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian have agreed to remove funding for these dubious projects in favor of more worthy ones.

“Sen. Gatchalian and I want to remove these vague entries in the NEP. It seems those who inserted these items plan to make them ghost projects. We could not identify who inserted them,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.

“When we amend the budget bill, we intend to realign these items to those in accordance with the Philippine medium term development plan and in coordination and consultation with the Department of Budget and Management and Department of Public Works and Highways so our amendments will be aligned with the direction that the national government wants to take. Our plan is to remove these items because they are too vague,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Pinuna ang P51.2B ‘Distinct’ Insertions sa 2026 NEP

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Lacson Dismayed Over Low Adoption of Local Projects in 2026 Budget

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson voiced dismay over the continued low adoption of local development projects in the proposed national budget for 2026.

Lacson said figures from the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) showed only 19.9 percent of the proposals from local development councils were adopted in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

He pushed for an adjustment of the schedules for the submission by local development councils of their local development programs to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“I noticed that only 19.9 percent of projects proposed by the Local Development Councils were adopted in the NEP. It seems local development plans were neglected again,” he said in Filipino during the regular Senate session Monday afternoon.

In Filipino: Lacson Nadismaya sa Mababang Adoption ng Local Projects sa 2026 Budget

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Lacson to Executive Branch: Protect Education Sector’s Budget, Uphold the Constitution

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pressed the Executive Department Monday to guard the education sector’s budget from a repeat of last year’s congressional “miracle” where it was overtaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in violation of the Constitution.

Lacson warned the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) not to become an “accessory” again to the potential violation of the 1987 Constitution.

“You need to remind legislators not to realign too much because we may be violating the Constitution. When you potentially violate the Constitution, that’s a major, major, major issue,” he told Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in Filipino, at the briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).

In Filipino: Lacson sa Ehekutibo: Protektahan ang Badyet ng Edukasyon, Panindigan ang Konstitusyon

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Lacson Floats One-Year ‘Experiment’ to Curb Budget Insertions

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday evening proposed an “experiment” aiming to prevent a repeat of the corruption that led to the mangling of the 2025 national budget through congressional insertions and realignments.

For the 2026 budget, Lacson proposed that the Senate adopt the National Expenditure Program (NEP) in full, with the assumption that the items in the NEP were fully vetted by the Executive Department.

“For a change, why not have the Senate adopt the NEP so that if there will be problems in implementing projects in 2026, it will be on the executive department,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.

“At least if it’s the NEP, I’m sure the items in it were studied carefully by the implementing agencies concerned,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Iminungkahi ang Isang-Taóng ‘Eksperimento’ para Pigilin ang Budget Insertions

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Lacson Scores Early Win in Demands for Full Transparency from Senators, House Members in Budget Amendments

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Wednesday scored an early win in his efforts to ensure transparency in the budget process, after he set two demands to which Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian agreed.

Following a “solution-finding discussion” Wednesday morning, Lacson said Gatchalian agreed to name the proponents of the amendments on the floor, to put it on record.

“We agreed that when any of our colleagues will seek clarification on particular insertions or realignments or amendments, then the chairman of the finance committee will divulge the identity or identities of the proponents of the amendments on the floor, to make it of record,” Lacson said in his manifestation during the discussion of amendments to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which aims to ensure transparency in deliberations for the 2026 budget.

In Filipino: Lacson, Iginiit ang Full Transparency Mula sa Mga Mambabatas sa mga Amyenda sa Badyet

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