Tag: pork barrel

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Lacson: Media, Public Vigilance Key vs Budget Manipulations, Especially with Livestreaming

The media and the public must stay vigilant to prevent manipulations in the budget bill, especially now that the proceedings in the bicameral conference committee are being livestreamed, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson said this will keep the pressure on lawmakers so they would not insist on funding for dubious programs, especially those that involve political patronage.

“Media and the public are the key here. If we all let down our guard, we may allow corruption to come back. We must remain vigilant not only on flood control projects, but also on the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program and farm-to-market roads,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Manatiling Mapagbantay ang Media at Publiko vs Manipulasyon sa Badyet, Lalo’t May Livestreaming Ngayon

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Lacson: Senate to Fight All the Way for Pork-Free Budget in Bicam

As both houses of Congress continue their bicameral conference committee discussions on the 2026 budget bill, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is confident that the Senate will fight all the way to ensure next year’s budget is pork-free.

Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget, said this includes the Senate’s resolution to ratify the enrolled or final version of the budget bill to prevent the possibility of last-minute insertions.

“The budget must be pork-free. It will be too much if despite the fallout of the corruption behind the flood control project mess, there are still those who want to exploit public funds,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“The bicam could be a matter of give-and-take but we must ensure the integrity of the budget and not allow self-interest. The interest of constituents is important but not the interest of kickbacks in infrastructure projects,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Lalaban Hanggang Dulo ang Senado para sa Pork-Free na Badyet sa Bicam

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Transparency in Action: Lacson Encourages Public to Check 2026 Budget Bill on Senate Website

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Saturday encouraged the public to see how the Senate put transparency in action in its version of the P6.793-trillion proposed national budget by visiting the Senate website.

Lacson said the Budget Transparency Portal reflects the reforms undertaken by the Senate in the budget process, including livestreaming the proceedings from committee hearings to the floor deliberations.

“Overall, the crafting of the budget in the Senate was very good. I would encourage you, the public, to check the Senate website. You will see the individual amendments of each senator. Everything is on record, unlike before when we cannot trace who made what amendment because the amendments were merely whispered to the committee chairman,” he said in FIlipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Transparency in Action: Lacson, Hinikayat ang Publiko na Suriin ang 2026 Budget Bill sa Website ng Senado

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Lacson: More Than P79B Likely Lost to Ghost Flood Control Projects Alone

More than P79 billion has likely been lost to ghost flood control projects dating back to 2016, not counting substandard ones, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said this was based on an updated report submitted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs.

“The DPWH submitted to the Blue Ribbon Committee an updated report. Combined with the new data from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police inspection teams, it appears the number of ghost projects was 494 out of some 13,000 projects,” he said.

He added P79 billion is a huge amount, considering that the Anti-Money Laundering Council managed to have frozen almost P12 billion worth of assets linked to the corruption behind the anomalous flood control projects.

In Filipino: Lacson: Higit P79B Malamang na Nawawala Dahil sa Ghost Flood Control Projects Pa Lamang

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Lacson Removes P2B Redundant ROW Payments, Pushes Anti-Corruption Measures in DPWH’s 2026 Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson removed more fat from the 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) by having P2 billion in appropriations for right-of-way (ROW) payments excised from it.

Lacson also moved to have the DPWH’s design manuals for key infrastructure updated and consultative, and to have a roadmap for digital planning, design, construction, maintenance and management to curb corruption.

During the period of amendments for the 2026 budget bill, Lacson sought to deduct P1 billion under the Various Completed Projects for the Payments of ROW for Nationwide/Central Office and another P1B from the Various Ongoing Projects for the Payments of ROW, similarly under Nationwide/Central Office.

“The Nationwide/Central Office’s Payments Right-of-Way (ROW) appropriations are redundant, as funds are already allocated regionally. If these funds are essential, they should be allocated to the relevant regions,” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinanggal ang P2B sa ‘Redundant’ ROW Payments, Isinulong ang Anti-Corruption Measures sa 2026 Budget ng DPWH

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