Tag: DZRH

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Lacson: Budget Transparency Efforts Must Continue Despite ‘Birth Pains’

Despite “birth pains” in the form of stalemates in the bicameral conference committee meetings on the 2026 budget bill, lawmakers must press on with their efforts to ensure transparency, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson also stressed that Filipinos – and not just lawmakers – must make sure the bitter lessons from the anomalous flood control project scandal are not repeated if the country is to recover and move forward.

“Unprecedented ito. Pinaguusapan nga namin kahapon. Sabi ko kay Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, alam mo itong nangyaring deadlock at usaping ganyan, birth pains ito kasi di pa nangyari ang ganito ka-transparent especially ang bicam. Kasi alam natin ang kalakaran noong nakaraan. So birth pains ito (What we experienced has been unprecedented. We talked about this Tuesday and I told Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian that the deadlocks are part of the birth pains because we haven’t been this transparent especially in the bicam. And we know what took place in past years. So this is part of birth pains),” he said in an interview on DZRH radio.

“Ito ang pagkakataon para ireporma natin ang budgeting system natin. Kung di pa tayo uusad after itong napakasakit na experience sa flood control project scandal, wala na talaga tayong pagasa (This is our chance to reform our budgeting system. If we cannot learn from the painful experience from the flood control project scandal, then we are hopeless),” he added, in a separate interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Transparency sa Badyet, Dapat Ipagpatuloy sa Kabila ng ‘Birth Pains’

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Lacson: Massive P457-Million Cash Delivery to DPWH Engineers May Point to Bigger Players in Flood Control Project Mess

Massive cash deliveries made to now-sacked engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including a P457-million one-time delivery last March, may point to bigger players in the flood control project mess, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said it is baffling why a contractor is delivering cash to DPWH engineers for projects when it should be the other way around.

He was referring to the cash deliveries made by Syms Construction owner Sally Santos to sacked DPWH Bulacan engineer Brice Hernandez at least three times this year alone.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dambuhalang P457-M Cash Delivery sa mga Inhinyero ng DPWH, Maaaring Magturo sa Mas Malalaking Tao sa Flood Control Mess

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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 Has High Expectations for Independent Body to Probe, Punish DPWH Anomalies

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson expressed high hopes Tuesday that an independent commission being formed by Malacanang will not only look into anomalous flood control and other projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), but also hold those involved accountable.

Lacson said the effectiveness of the independent investigating body will be measured by its ability to help deliver the certainty of punishment for those behind the anomalies, as he warned that failure to do so may embolden further corruption.

“Many will be watching the result of the independent investigation of the commission. The projected composition is to the hilt, and is potentially extensive and comprehensive enough to pinpoint accountability,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio Tuesday.

“But as someone who came from law enforcement, delivering the certainty of punishment is key. If we don’t see anyone being punished, there will be those who will be emboldened to engage in corruption,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Umaasa na Independent Body Titiyak ng Pananagutan sa Anomalya sa DPWH

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Lacson: DPWH Has Become a Playground for Syndicates

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has become a playground for criminal syndicates as additional information on the mafia-like activities of its engineering offices in various parts of the country continue to surface, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson cited additional information reaching him on the involvement of DPWH officials in anomalous flood control projects, including projects that were not in the report submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“There are so many irregularities involving the district engineering offices. The district engineer points to contractors and borrows their licenses, which he will use to implement the project. There are also feelers that there are irregularities in even the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board. The DPWH has become a playground for syndicates,” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson: DPWH, Naging Pugad Para sa Mga Sindikatong Kriminal

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