Tag: pork barrel

Statements

Lacson Votes Yes to Ratification of 2026 Budget Bill, But With Strong Reservations

For the first time in a long while, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson cast his affirmative vote on Monday to ratify the P6.793-trillion budget for 2026 – but with a strong reservation due to items that keep the door open to potential political patronage.

In his manifestation on the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the 2026 budget bill, Lacson particularly stressed his reservation on appropriations for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

He manifested as well his reservation over other social welfare programs or “ayuda” that are “discretionary and duplicative of institutionalized and rules-based programs, and other similar budget items that lack agency requests.”

“For the first time in a long while, I am voting YES for the ratification of the bicameral report on the proposed national budget for 2026. HOWEVER, WITH THIS AFFIRMATIVE VOTE COMES A STRONG RESERVATION,” he said.

“The national budget must not be a political tool or spoils for those in power. We deserve a budget that truly serves the people, free from political exploitation,” he stressed. “While we have made headway, the path forward remains extensive.”

In Filipino: Lacson, Bumoto ng Yes sa Ratipikasyon ng 2026 Budget Bill Nguni’t May ‘Strong Reservations’

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Lacson: Briefly Reenacted 2025 Budget Better than Rushed, Corruption-Prone 2026 Budget

A briefly reenacted 2025 budget would be preferable to rushing the passage of the 2026 version only to find it unresponsive to the needs of the times – or worse, prone to corruption, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said this after Executive Secretary Ralph Recto was quoted as saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is to sign the P6.793-trillion budget for 2026 in the first week of January, meaning a reenacted budget for a few days.

He also reiterated that the key, even after the budget is finally signed into law, should still be continued vigilance in monitoring, reporting, and even shaming wrongdoing in government.

“This is exactly what I said earlier – better a reenacted budget in January, or even in the first quarter of 2026, than rushing the passage of a national budget that is not responsive to the call of the times, amidst the yet unresolved investigations on the misuse and abuse of the current and previous expenditure programs, particularly involving flood control projects,” said Lacson, a long-time watchdog of the national budget.

In Filipino: Lacson: Panandaliang Reenacted 2025 Budget, Mas Mainam kaysa Minadali at Corruption-Prone na 2026 Budget

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Lacson: No Holiday Furlough for Discaya, 3 Former DPWH Engineers

Due to security concerns, there will be no holiday furlough for contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and three former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers detained in the Senate in connection with the flood control project scandal, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probing the issue, said Senate President Vicente Sotto III approved his recommendation to deny the leave requests of Discaya and former engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza and Henry Alcantara.

“I recommended to the Senate President that their request for Christmas furlough be denied mainly for security reasons, owing to the repeated media statements from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that arrest warrants against them will be issued before Christmas,” Lacson said.

“So the risk of escape becomes greater – not to mention that it makes no sense to grant such requests for Christmas leave if indeed warrants are coming out by then,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Walang Holiday Furlough para kina Discaya, 3 Dating Inhinyero ng DPWH

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Lacson Hopeful Safeguards in 2026 Budget, Continued Vigilance vs Abuse Can Bring Positive Change

With safeguards among others in place and with continued public vigilance, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson holds high hopes that the 2026 budget will help bring positive change for Filipinos.

Lacson lauded the Senate panel in the bicameral conference committee led by Senate finance committee Sherwin Gatchalian for fighting for the safeguards and transparency measures the Senate has inserted.

“Amid all the disinformation and unreasonable criticisms, we have all the reasons to be proud of our Senate panel under the leadership of our Finance Chair Senator Win. I give my two thumbs up from start to finish,” Lacson said.

“We do not live in a perfect world, much less in an ideal situation, so we cannot be perfectionists and idealistic given the circumstances. That’s why adjustments must be made both ways,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Umaasang Safeguards sa 2026 Budget at Pagmamatyag vs Abuso, Tutulong sa Pagdulot ng Pagbabago

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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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