Tag: DZBB

Posted on

Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel Pushing Ban on Allocables and Leadership Fund

Abolish the system of allocables and the “leadership fund” from the national budget, strengthen transparency in the budget process, and expand the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman to pursue corruption cases.

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday that these are among the emerging recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into anomalous flood control projects.

These are aside from the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings being instrumental in the ongoing preliminary investigations of the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman into key figures involved in the scandal – including former and incumbent lawmakers – as well as the trial happening at the Sandiganbayan, he emphasized.

Lacson pointed out that “almost all the recommendations in the partial committee report have already been overtaken by events as they are already being undertaken and in fact the said preliminary investigations are nearing completion if not completed already.”

“(Kasama sa rekomendasyon ng komite ang) ibawal ang allocables at leadership fund. Ito ang reporma tungkol sa budget. Tapos gawing transparent, of course ginawa namin sa 2026 budget, transparent ang entire budgeting process (Among the committee’s recommendations are to ban allocables and the leadership fund as part of reforms in the budgeting system. And make the crafting of the budget transparent, similar to what we did for the 2026 General Appropriations Act),” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel, Itinutulak ang Pagbabawal sa Allocables at Leadership Fund

Continue reading “Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel Pushing Ban on Allocables and Leadership Fund”

Posted on

Lacson Cites Constitutional Path for Using BSKE Funds for Crisis Response Amid Comelec Chairman’s Concerns

Realigning the Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s budget for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to agencies outside the Comelec may be unconstitutional, but a constitutional path exists to channel the funds for crisis response, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson thus allayed the concerns of Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia on proposals to postpone the BSKE and use some P16 billion in unspent funds allocated to it to address the fuel crisis stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.

“What the Chairman says is true. Funds allocated to the Comelec cannot be realigned to items outside it because that would be unconstitutional. But the allocations can still be treated as savings – Comelec may opt not to spend the funds for the BSKE and declare them as savings to be returned to the Treasury,” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinuro ang Konstitusyunal na Paraan Para sa BSKE Funds sa Gitna ng Pangamba ng Comelec

Continue reading “Lacson Cites Constitutional Path for Using BSKE Funds for Crisis Response Amid Comelec Chairman’s Concerns”

Posted on

Real talk vs fantasy [Manila Times]

From Ben Kritz’s column in The Manila Times: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (said that) the government needs to take decisive and perhaps even “extreme” action to come to grips with skyrocketing oil prices. Rather than just leave it at that, Lacson went on to specify the legal tools and funds that are already in place to do that.

Continue reading “Real talk vs fantasy [Manila Times]”

Posted on

Lacson Backs Joint Oil, Gas Exploration with China, With 60-40 Safeguard

Citing ongoing risks to global oil supply due to the conflict in the Middle East, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday the Marcos administration should consider exploring joint energy ventures with China, including in the West Philippine Sea.

Lacson, however, stressed that any such arrangement must strictly comply with the 60-40 foreign ownership provision under the Philippine Constitution.

“Yes. Four-square behind, sinusuportahan ko. Kasi sayang eh. Yayaman tayo doon (Yes. I am supporting this, I’m four-square behind it. There is so much potential. We can benefit greatly from it),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio, when asked if the Marcos administration should consider joint exploration.

In Filipino: Lacson, Suportado ang Joint Oil at Gas Exploration sa China, na may 60-40 Safeguard

Continue reading “Lacson Backs Joint Oil, Gas Exploration with China, With 60-40 Safeguard”

Posted on

Lacson Pushes Decisive, ‘Extreme’ Measures to Shield Filipinos From Rising Fuel Costs

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday called for decisive – and even “extreme” – government intervention to shield Filipinos from the relentless surge in petroleum prices.

Lacson stressed the government must also disclose its actions against “early” profiteers, noting that any relief from a potential excise tax suspension may not be felt until June — if at all.

He likewise underscored the need to ensure the proper use of some P230 billion in potential funds from the 2025 and 2026 General Appropriations Acts (GAA) to help sectors hit hardest by the fuel crisis.

“May mga batas na pwedeng gamitin ang provision ng mga batas na ito dahil may state of energy emergency. Ngayon kung paano i-implement yan, at kailan gagamitin, kailan i-implement at paano i-implement, yan ang mas importante (We have laws that can be implemented now that there is a state of national energy emergency. What is more important is how and when it will implement these),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Mahigpit na Hakbang para Pangalagaan ang mga Pilipino vs Tumataas na Presyo ng Langis

Continue reading “Lacson Pushes Decisive, ‘Extreme’ Measures to Shield Filipinos From Rising Fuel Costs”