Tag: DBCC

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Lacson Backs DBM Budget Transparency Efforts, Pushes Stronger Digital Tracking

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson voiced support for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s platform to make the national budget transparent and accessible to the public, even as he offered suggestions to strengthen them.

Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget, particularly inquired on whether the DBM has the technology to track changes in the crafting of the national budget, including proponents of amendments.

“Is there any current technology available to keep your system transparent yet secure, to enable us in both houses of Congress to track movements of the budget, from what is provided by the National Expenditure Program and going forward, to track who proposed which amendments to the General Appropriations Act?” he said in a mix of English and FIlipino at the briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).

In Filipino: Lacson Suporta ang Inisyatiba ng DBM para sa Budget Transparency, Itinulak ang Mas Malakas na Digital Tracking

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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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Ping Lacson Encourages LGUs: Act Early to Ensure Funding for Development Programs

Independent senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson encouraged local government units (LGUs) to take early action to ensure funding for their local development projects in the national budget.

Lacson said this means LGUs will need to submit their development plans to the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) before January, as the DBCC will start its deliberations early in the year.

“By January – or even November or December the year before – the local development projects must be submitted to Malacanang or the Department of Budget and Management, so they can be included in the discussion of the budget for the next year,” he said.

“It will then be up to the DBCC to prioritize. My stand is, who else would know the needs and priorities of LGUs than the local officials themselves,” he added.

Related: Ping Lacson, Hinikayat ang LGUs: Umaksyon ng Maaga para Mapondohan ang Development Programs

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