Tag: President Bongbong Marcos

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On the Independent Commission for Infrastructure

The expanded coverage of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to include all infrastructure projects and not just flood control projects is a most welcome development.

In like manner, I hope the scope of the sumbongsapangulo.ph website will likewise be expanded by not limiting its coverage to flood control projects only.

Better yet, the website can be made more valuable to taxpayers by including data on funding for all infrastructure projects of all agencies, from the National Expenditure Program to the General Appropriations Act, as well as the identities of the proponents of congressional amendments or insertions and all the way to the project implementation and completion. And yes, complete with geotagging, please.

This will maximize transparency every step of the way, not to mention public participation in monitoring where and how our taxes are being spent.

Meanwhile, there are bills filed in both Houses of Congress that will institutionalize the ICI, complete with all the powers in the mold of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of Hong Kong and the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) of Singapore.

It is long in coming.

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Lacson Supports President’s Disowning of Allies Engaged in Anomalous Deals

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson threw his support Tuesday behind President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s disowning of allies found to engage in anomalous deals, saying this deserves encouragement from the public.

Lacson, a long-time enemy of corruption, also said he is doing his own research on questionable flood control projects.

“The President is on a roll and we should encourage him some more. When he called out the members of Congress with his now most-quoted ‘Mahiya naman kayo’ remark, followed by his announcement yesterday that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already submitted its report on the defective and anomalous flood control projects, the ball is now in his hands to make good on his promise to make accountable all those involved – errant contractors and their cohorts in government,” he said.

“That said, I am confident na ‘mahihiya naman ang Pangulo (the President will be embarrassed)’ if he fails to walk the talk,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Buo ang Suporta sa Pagtakwil ng Pangulo sa Kaalyadong Sangkot sa Anomalya

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Ping Lacson: Having Public, Including President, as Observers in Budget Bicam Deliberations to Boost Transparency

There is nothing wrong in having the public – including the President – as observers in the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the national budget as it will ensure transparency on the matter, incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Saturday afternoon.

Lacson also maintained that the development plans of local government units (LGUs) must be heard in the preparation of the national budget, and this can best be done through the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and not any one agency.

“Why prevent the President from being an observer? Ideally, any Filipino should be allowed to observe the bicameral deliberations. In my bill, I limited the observers to accredited non-government organizations and civil society groups so the venue will not be too crowded. But the bottom line is that someone will be there to observe and guard the proceedings,” Lacson, who earned a reputation as a watchdog of the budget, said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“I am in favor of the President and his Cabinet being there as observers – along with accredited NGOs and CSOs, and even the media,” he added.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson: Pag-Obserba ng Publiko, Kabilang ang Pangulo, sa Budget Bicam Deliberations Kailangan para Tiyakin ang Transparency

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Ping Lacson: PBBM Should Act Quickly on Remaining Courtesy Resignations

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. may need to act quickly on the pending courtesy resignations of his Cabinet members to avoid possible inefficiency and divisiveness in the ranks, Senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.

Lacson said that since the President ordered the courtesy resignations, there has been jockeying for positions in the Cabinet, with some resorting to foul means.

“An unsolicited advice: the President should act quickly on the pending courtesy resignations. The season for jockeying for positions has intensified with the usual circulation of ‘white papers’ and floating of names of ‘applicants’ to fill up some still ‘unvacated posts,'” he said in a post on X late Wednesday.

“Uncertainty often leads to inefficiency and divisiveness in the ranks,” he added.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson: Kailangang Aksyunan Agad ni PBBM ang Natitirang Courtesy Resignations

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On the President’s Call for Cabinet Secretaries’ Courtesy Resignations

More than recalibrating his administration by calling for the courtesy resignations of his Cabinet members, the President must exercise his “persuasive” powers over Congress, especially the House of Representatives, to get rid of indiscriminate and self-aggrandizing “insertions” and “pork barrel” in the forthcoming congressional deliberations of the 2026 budget measure.

The 2025 General Appropriations Act is like a deadly virus that is choking the country to perdition. With the President taking the lead in at least tempering the insatiable greed of some legislators, I vow to do my share in helping him come up with a national budget that is truly responsive to the people’s clamor for sanity and a little timidity among the members of Congress in addressing the needs of their constituents.

With the exception of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), eliminating all other forms of “ayuda” and integrating them under the 4Ps in the National Expenditure Program all the way to the Enrolled Bill should be a good start. As I have consistently posited – AKAP, AICS, TUPAD, MAIFIP and similar social services programs may be integrated under the 4Ps in compliance with RA 11310, which I intend to amend through a bill that I will file when I assume office as an elected Senator of the Republic.

It is time to give the Filipino people a chance to benefit more from the taxes that they pay out of their hard-earned money.

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