Tag: AKAP

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Ping Lacson Starts Reviewing the Mangling of the 2025 Budget

Incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, together with his prospective staff, have started taking a deep dive into how the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget was mangled, to prevent a possible similar butchering of the national budget bill for next year.

Lacson said they are reviewing how changes were made from the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the versions of the budget bill in the House, Senate, and bicameral conference committee, all the way to the enrolled bill.

“We are juxtaposing the NEP, the House, Senate and bicameral versions of the bill, and the enrolled bill to see how the 2025 budget was mangled. We are looking at the NEP or President’s budget and what changes were made in the House version, the Senate version, and the bicam version,” he said in Filipino, in an interview on One News late Thursday.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson, Sinimulan ang Pag-Review sa Pagkalikot sa 2025 Budget

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Ping Lacson: Having Public, Including President, as Observers in Budget Bicam Deliberations to Boost Transparency

There is nothing wrong in having the public – including the President – as observers in the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the national budget as it will ensure transparency on the matter, incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Saturday afternoon.

Lacson also maintained that the development plans of local government units (LGUs) must be heard in the preparation of the national budget, and this can best be done through the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and not any one agency.

“Why prevent the President from being an observer? Ideally, any Filipino should be allowed to observe the bicameral deliberations. In my bill, I limited the observers to accredited non-government organizations and civil society groups so the venue will not be too crowded. But the bottom line is that someone will be there to observe and guard the proceedings,” Lacson, who earned a reputation as a watchdog of the budget, said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“I am in favor of the President and his Cabinet being there as observers – along with accredited NGOs and CSOs, and even the media,” he added.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson: Pag-Obserba ng Publiko, Kabilang ang Pangulo, sa Budget Bicam Deliberations Kailangan para Tiyakin ang Transparency

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Integrating Ayudas Under 4Ps Tops Ping Lacson’s Legislative Agenda

Integrating all forms of “ayuda” under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program will top the legislative agenda of incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson in the 20th Congress.

Lacson said Monday that this is part of his push for good governance, along with an intensified scrutiny of the national budget bill, upon his return to the Senate.

“This early, I have instructed my prospective legislative staff to draft an amendment to Republic Act 11310, the law on the 4Ps program, to expand it and address the sectors covered by the other forms of ayuda that have become confusing and have become a political tool used by some politicians for their campaigns, both during and outside of the campaign period,” Lacson said in Filipino, in an interview on Bombo Radyo Philippines.

“Expanding the 4Ps will be better because the 4Ps has a data-driven list of beneficiaries; unlike other ayuda programs that are indiscriminate and are prone to duplication like TUPAD, AKAP, AICS and MAIP,” he added.

In Filipino: Integrated Ayuda sa Ilalim ng 4Ps, Isusulong ni Ping Lacson

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Ping: On the Palace’s Review of the Proposed 2025 Budget

In an interview on NET25, Ping Lacson answers questions on:
* Palace review of the 2025 budget
* Funds for education, PhilHealth, and AKAP

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On the NFA Seeking P16B Budget for Palay Procurement

Great idea. Instead of funding AKAP and other redundant “ayudas” that benefit mostly leaders and supporters of politicians, buying palay from LOCAL farmers and selling cheap rice in Kadiwa stores is a lot more sensible.