Tag: bicameral conference

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Lacson Rebuts ‘Senate Pork’ Claims: Funds are for Higher Subsistence Allowance Hike

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Wednesday rebutted claims of an alleged P17.9-billion pork barrel fund for the Senate in the 2026 budget bill, saying these are actually realignments to increase the subsistence allowance of uniformed personnel.

Lacson said the claims of “Senate pork” made by Rep. Antonio Tinio smacked either of “trabahong tamad (lazy work)” or a malicious attempt to destabilize the Senate.

“The ‘Senate pork’ referred to by Rep. Tinio are actually realignments to increase the subsistence allowance of the uniformed personnel from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Fire Protection and also the Philippine Coast Guard,” Lacson stressed.

“Rep. Tinio is either too lazy to do his research, or he is malevolently destabilizing the Senate to take the heat off the House of Representatives,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Walang “Senate Pork,” Pondo para Pataasin ang Subsistence Allowance ng Uniformed Services

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Lacson Pushes Clear, Foolproof Safeguards vs Abuse, Political Patronage in 2026 Budget Bill

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pushed late Monday for clear and foolproof safeguards to prevent abuse and political patronage, especially in at least three contentious issues in the P6.793-trillion proposed budget for 2026.

Lacson said there must be no political interference in the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), funding for farm-to-market roads, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s request to restore cuts in its budget.

“Some special provisions have been prepared to address the issues. We are studying the safeguards now. I am looking for ways to ensure these safeguards will be foolproof, that they will not be exploited by politicians,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on One News late Monday. “Safeguards are important to me, to make sure public funds in the budget do not go to corruption. That is the bottom line for me.”

“I made it clear that unless I see the safeguards are foolproof, I may go along with the minority if they will not sign to ratify the budget bill,” he added. “We have our own advocacies. Some advocate education and health. My advocacy is to fix the budget.”

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Malinaw at ‘Foolproof’ na Safeguards vs Abuso at Political Patronage sa 2026 Budget Bill

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Lacson: Media, Public Vigilance Key vs Budget Manipulations, Especially with Livestreaming

The media and the public must stay vigilant to prevent manipulations in the budget bill, especially now that the proceedings in the bicameral conference committee are being livestreamed, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson said this will keep the pressure on lawmakers so they would not insist on funding for dubious programs, especially those that involve political patronage.

“Media and the public are the key here. If we all let down our guard, we may allow corruption to come back. We must remain vigilant not only on flood control projects, but also on the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program and farm-to-market roads,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Manatiling Mapagbantay ang Media at Publiko vs Manipulasyon sa Badyet, Lalo’t May Livestreaming Ngayon

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Lacson Not Signing Budget Bicam Report with Questionable MAIFIP, Farm-to-Market Roads Provisions

Unless the provisions granting the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) a massive budget increase and allocating billions for potentially unvetted farm-to-market roads are corrected, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will not sign to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the 2026 budget.

Lacson drew the line on the matter Sunday after the bicameral conference committee decided to increase the MAIFIP’s 2026 budget to P51 billion, and provide P33 billion for farm-to-market roads.

“Sorry, unless rectified in its final version, I cannot sign to ratify a bicam report with P51 billion for MAIFIP, with nothing but guarantee letters from politicians and is not compliant with the Universal Health Care Act. Further, I will not associate myself with the P33-billion spending for unplanned and unvetted farm-to-market roads,” said Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget.

“Unless we adequately fund the UHC programs such that they cover all barangays and ensure zero billing, among others., we cannot fully implement the UHC law that we passed. All health-related funds must be subsumed under the Universal Health Care program of the Department of Health. Guarantee letters from politicians will only guarantee patronage politics but not the health care needs of Filipinos, especially the indigents,” he stressed.

In Filipino: Lacson, Hindi Pipirma sa Bicam Report ng Badyet na may Kaduda-dudang Probisyon sa MAIFIP, Farm-to-Market Roads

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Lacson: Senate to Fight All the Way for Pork-Free Budget in Bicam

As both houses of Congress continue their bicameral conference committee discussions on the 2026 budget bill, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is confident that the Senate will fight all the way to ensure next year’s budget is pork-free.

Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget, said this includes the Senate’s resolution to ratify the enrolled or final version of the budget bill to prevent the possibility of last-minute insertions.

“The budget must be pork-free. It will be too much if despite the fallout of the corruption behind the flood control project mess, there are still those who want to exploit public funds,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“The bicam could be a matter of give-and-take but we must ensure the integrity of the budget and not allow self-interest. The interest of constituents is important but not the interest of kickbacks in infrastructure projects,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Lalaban Hanggang Dulo ang Senado para sa Pork-Free na Badyet sa Bicam

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