Tag: budget

Statements, Videos

Lacson Vows Budgetary Support for AFP Drone Capability Development

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday pledged budgetary support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to develop drone capabilities for national defense, especially against external aggression.

Lacson gave the assurance to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, noting that drones could provide the Philippines with a more practical and affordable defense capability compared to more expensive platforms such as warships and long-range missiles.

“I just want to find out (some details para) pagdating ng budget deliberations we can support the program, meron talaga kayong tangible program para mag-develop ng drones. Kasi ito lang ang pwede nating panlaban considering our situation (I just want to find out some details so that when we start budget deliberations, we can support the program if you have a tangible program to develop drones. Drones are the only practical option we have against external aggression, considering our situation),” he said at the confirmation hearing of AFP officials at the Commission on Appointments.

“I don’t think we have the wherewithal to build big warships and long-range missiles and the like. Meron ba tayong programa sa development ng drones, in case may external aggression? At least may laban man lang tayo maski wala tayong pera (I don’t think we have the wherewithal to build big warships or acquire long-range missiles and the like. Do we have a program to develop drones against external aggression? At least we have a fighting chance even if we don’t have enough funds),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nangako ng Suporta sa Badyet para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Drone Capability ng AFP

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Statements, Videos

Lacson Lays Out Evidence, Recommendations vs ‘Systemic, Parasitic’ Greed in Flood Control Anomalies

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday presented key evidence and policy recommendations drawn from at least seven hearings to finally curb the “systematic and parasitic” greed behind anomalous flood control projects – which he described as the largest corruption scandal in Philippine history.

Lacson also said he does not aim to indict or hand down a final judgment, but to establish a standard to assist authorities who shall evaluate the findings, determine probable cause, and take the necessary legal actions.

“The road to full accountability is long. But we must start to agree somewhere. This Chairman’s Report is a decisive step forward. We owe it to the witnesses who spoke up, to the experts who provided evidence, and most importantly, to the millions of Filipinos who find themselves neck-deep in floodwaters every time a storm hits. We cannot let their efforts—and ours—go to waste,” he said.

“Mr. President, this report is a referral-and-reform package. Simple lang: imbestigahan nang legal, alamin kung ano ang nangyari, bawiin ang kaya pang bawiin, at ayusin ang batas—para hindi doble bayad ang Pilipino: sa buwis at sa delubyo ng baha (Investigate and find out what happened, and recover what can be recovered. Also fix the laws so Filipinos won’t pay twice – with taxes and with their lives because of the floods),” he added. “Kung mali ang alegasyon (If the allegations are wrong), the process clears them. Kung totoo (If they are true), the process convicts — with due process and accountability – makukulong ang dapat makulong (those who deserve to be jailed should be jailed).”

In Filipino: Lacson Inilatag ang Ebidensiya, mga Rekomendasyon laban sa ‘Systemic, Parasitic’ na Kasakiman sa Anomalya sa Flood Control

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Hearings/Investigations, Statements, Videos

Lacson Pushes Budget Reforms to Ensure Transparency, Alignment, Realistic Execution

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday renewed his push for reforms that would enhance transparency in government spending, alignment between the national government and local government units (LGUs), and flexibility for implementing projects, activities, and programs.

At the Senate finance committee’s hearing, Lacson raised major concerns that include the “disappearance” of the Unified Accounts Code Structure (UACS), the need to synchronize local development councils’ outputs with national budget calls, and limitations on unprogrammed appropriations.

Lacson, a watchdog of the national budget, pushed for the strict implementation of the UACS system used to track the projects for funding in the budget bill, noting that the UACS would disappear once the National Expenditure Program (NEP) is transformed into the House and Senate versions or authorization phase of the budget cycle – then reappear on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s website during implementation of the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Reporma sa Badyet para sa Transparency, Pagkakaugnay, at Realistic na Pagpapatupad

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Statements

Lacson: Unprogrammed Funds Constitutional, but Must Strictly Follow Safeguards

Unprogrammed appropriations under the Special Purpose Fund in the national budget are constitutional and even necessary, so long as they strictly follow the safeguards or three special provisions under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this Tuesday after Supreme Court Justice Ramon Paul Hernando said the practice of integrating unprogrammed appropriations in the GAA is unconstitutional and even “repugnant.”

“With all due respect to Justice Hernando, ‘Unprogrammed Appropriations’ under the Special Purpose Fund is necessary to augment certain items under the Regular Budget as long as the same strictly complies with the three Special Provisions under the GAA, namely: (a) there is an excess non-tax revenue collection; (b) there is an accompanying or new revenue measure and; (c) approved loans,” Lacson said.

“Further, only the President may approve such augmentation due to some justifiable reasons in order to fully implement specific programs, activities and projects (PAPs) clearly identified therein,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Konstitusyonal ang Unprogrammed Funds, Pero Dapat Mahigpit na Sumunod sa Safeguards

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Interpellation, Statements, Videos

Lacson Pushes Maximizing LGUs’ Participation in Crafting Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday pushed anew for maximizing the participation of local government units (LGUs) in the crafting of the national budget, with their priority programs and activities getting a bigger share of the budget pie.

Lacson said that while only 35 percent of projects endorsed by regional development councils are accommodated in the National Expenditure Program, he is hoping this can be enhanced to up to 60 percent.

“(Our effort) is to get them involved in the preparation of the NEP, maximize their participation. In fact the President himself issued Executive Order 82 strengthening and enhancing the participation of regional development councils. And the RDCs rely heavily on local development councils,” he said in his interpellation of the proposed 2026 budget for the DILG’s Support to Local Governance Program.

“Sa ngayon we’re still at 35% of the entire NEP sa budget call. Ang pumapasok sa NEP sa mga 35% output ng RDCs. We want to further enhance that makarating man lang ng 50-60% (For now only 35% of the projects endorsed by the regional development councils are accommodated in the NEP. We want to further enhance that to 50-60%),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Mas Malaking Papel para sa LGU sa Pagbuo ng Budget

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