Tag: DZXL

Posted on

Lacson Seeks More Equitable Distribution of National Tax Allotments to LGUs

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is exploring ways to make the distribution of the National Tax Allotment (NTA) to local government units (LGUs) more equitable, particularly by giving smaller LGUs greater resources to spur development.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, said that under the current NTA formula, smaller towns and provinces receive only a fraction of the allocations received by their bigger and wealthier counterparts.

“Kung sinong mayayaman at malalaking siyudad, ang laki ng NTA na nakukuha. For example ang nanguna Davao City and Quezon City, pumapalo sa P10 billion. Sa maliit na munisipyo pagkaliit-liit, halos hindi nila maramdaman ang share nila sa NTA (The bigger and wealthier cities receive huge allocations. For example, Davao City and Quezon City get a big NTA allocation – as much as P10 billion. But very small cities’ NTA shares are so small they can hardly feel its impact),” he said in an interview on DZXL radio.

“Ang problema, inequitability ng distribution, ng share ng LGU sa ating national revenues. Dapat siguro gawing equitable nang kaunti (The problem is the inequitable distribution of LGUs’ share in our national revenues. We must find ways to make it more equitable),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Naghahanap ng Mas Pantay na Pamamahagi ng National Tax Allotments sa mga LGU

Continue reading “Lacson Seeks More Equitable Distribution of National Tax Allotments to LGUs”

Posted on

Lacson Questions ‘Uniform’ P180-Million Evacuation Center Allocations Per Region, ‘Ayuda’ in Proposed 2027 Budget

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday questioned a “uniform” P180-million lump sum allocation for evacuation centers in each of the country’s 17 regions totaling more than P3 billion – as well as an apparent heavy allocation for “ayuda” or social services – under the proposed 2027 national budget.

Lacson said his and his staff’s scrutiny of the National Expenditure Program showed the proposed evacuation center allocations lacked key details, including specific locations where they would be built.

“We observed that each of the 17 regions was given a P180-million lump sum for evacuation centers. There were no details on where they would be located. The P180 million was uniformly distributed to each region,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZXL radio.

“Was there any study to determine if a region needed more evacuation centers? There seemed to be none. That is not acceptable. There were no specifications or locations. Each of Regions 1 to 17 was simply given P180 million for a total of more than P3 billion,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson Kinuwestiyon ang Tig-P180M Alokasyon para sa Evacuation Center Bawat Rehiyon, ‘Ayuda’ sa Panukalang 2027 Budget

Continue reading “Lacson Questions ‘Uniform’ P180-Million Evacuation Center Allocations Per Region, ‘Ayuda’ in Proposed 2027 Budget”

Posted on

Lacson: Without Clear Direction for Flood Control Program, Government Wasting More Taxpayers’ Money

Without a master plan or clear direction for its flood control program, the government risks wasting more taxpayers’ money, including the P107.4 billion earmarked for flood control under the proposed 2027 budget, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said this is one of the questions he will raise at the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) briefing, which is scheduled to start on Aug. 27.

“Are we following a flood management program? If not, we are just wasting money because we have no direction,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZXL radio.

“In the proposed 2027 budget, some P107 billion is earmarked for flood control projects. A good question to ask is, how will it be spent? Are there overall programs for this? If so, where are they?” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Kung Walang Malinaw na Direksyon sa Flood Control Program, Masasayang Na Naman ang Pera ng Taumbayan

Continue reading “Lacson: Without Clear Direction for Flood Control Program, Government Wasting More Taxpayers’ Money”

Posted on

Lacson: Insisting on ‘Dividing the House’ During a Debate Means Neither Facts nor Rule on Their Side

Insisting on “dividing the house” to force a vote even in the middle of a debate is a not-so-subtle admission that neither the facts nor the rule are on their side, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson paraphrased a classic legal principle to illustrate the exchange at the Senate Tuesday evening, when Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano insisted on dividing the house after Lacson questioned the rules and procedure to handle a motion to amend the rules by bypassing the yet to be constituted Committee on Rules to which the said motion was referred earlier by no less than the Senate President himself.

“Apologies to lawyers, I will paraphrase a classic legal aphorism:
‘If the facts are on your side, pound the facts.
If the RULE is on your side, pound the RULE.
If neither the facts nor the RULE are on your side, MOVE TO DIVIDE THE HOUSE.’”” Lacson said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Pagpilit na I-‘Divide the House’ sa Gitna ng Debate, Senyales na Wala sa Panig Nila ang Katotohanan o Batas

Continue reading “Lacson: Insisting on ‘Dividing the House’ During a Debate Means Neither Facts nor Rule on Their Side”

Posted on

Lacson: Senate Leadership Change Won’t Slow Budget Hearings

The change of leadership in the Senate will not affect or slow down the hearings of the Senate committee on finance, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson assured on Tuesday.

Lacson said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian will stay as chairman of the Finance Committee that is handling the hearings on the proposed 2026 national budget.

“Hindi. Mananatili siyang chairman. After all, part siya ng bagong majority so hindi maalis sa kanya ang finance committee (Sen. Gatchalian will remain as chairman of the Senate finance committee. After all, he is part of the new majority),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio, when asked if there will be changes in the chairmanship of the said committee.

In Filipino: Lacson: Leadership Change sa Senado, Hindi Makakaapekto sa Budget Hearings

Continue reading “Lacson: Senate Leadership Change Won’t Slow Budget Hearings”