Tag: Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian

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Designed to ‘Confuse and Corrupt’? Lacson Flags ‘Duplicate’ Projects in DPWH’s 2025 Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday evening flagged several “duplicate” projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in its corruption-filled 2025 budget, which he said could have been designed to “confuse and corrupt.”

In his interpellation of the DPWH’s budget for 2026, Lacson noted these duplicates were under the Convergence and Special Support Program (CSSP), which were “significantly bloated every year” from 2023 to 2025.

“Bakit ito palaging bloated every year? Significant ang kanyang pagtaas (Why is the CSSP bloated every year? And the increases are significant),” he said.

Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, who sponsored the DPWH budget, replied that these increases are “mostly congressional.”

In FIlipino: Designed to ‘Confuse and Corrupt’? Lacson, Sinita ang mga ‘Duplicate’ Projects sa 2025 Budget ng DPWH

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Lacson Intervention Leads to Restoration of AMLC’s 2026 Budget

Following the intervention by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, the Senate finance committee has restored the proposed budget of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for 2026 to P333 million.

Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian informed Lacson that the AMLC’s budget was restored to P333 million in the Senate version of the budget bill, from the P170.161 million allotted for it in the National Expenditure Program.

“We granted the request of AMLC upon your recommendation during the budget deliberations. Remember, you strongly recommended to increase the budget of AMLC considering what’s happening right now. So the new budget of AMLC is P333 million,” Gatchalian said, after Lacson inquired about the restoration of the AMLC’s budget during the deliberation of the agency’s 2026 budget Monday.

“Thank you, Mr. President,” Lacson replied.

In Filipino: Sa Tulong ni Lacson, ‘Restored’ ang 2026 Budget ng AMLC

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Lacson Pushes P250M Funding for Anti-Corruption Office in Judiciary

To strengthen the Judiciary’s fight against corruption, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Wednesday pushed for the inclusion of funds in the 2026 budget for the newly reorganized Judicial Integrity Office (JIO).

During his interpellation of the 2026 budget of the Judiciary, Lacson noted that operationalizing the JIO would help strengthen accountability among judges, officials and employees of the courts.

“I’m interested in this. (This is part of the) signs of the times (because) as the nomenclature suggests, JIO will be primarily tasked to promote integrity and to address issues of corruption within the Judiciary,” he said.

“While the consciousness is high in addressing corruption, maybe this is the proper time to assist the Supreme Court and the Judiciary to organize immediately the JIO,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang P250M Pondo para sa Anti-Corruption Office sa Hudikatura

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Lacson: DPWH Diverted P50B in Unprogrammed Funds for Infra Projects in 2024

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) diverted no less than P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 budget for various infrastructure projects, including P30 billion for flood control projects alone, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bared Tuesday.

Lacson said this showed how DPWH officials have become comfortable with not following the government’s master plan for infrastructure projects.

“In 2024 alone, the DPWH diverted P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations for infrastructure projects, including P30 billion for flood control projects. This means DPWH officials have become comfortable with funding such projects even if this means violating the government’s master plan,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“These appropriations were spread throughout several districts. The public fund was abused because of the collusion between some lawmakers and DPWH officials, to the point that lawmakers gave the DPWH bigger funds than the education sector – and in 2025, they continued this practice until it exploded in our faces,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: DPWH, Inilaan ang P50B Unprogrammed Funds Para sa Infra Projects noong 2024

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Push to Scrap Unprogrammed Appropriations in 2026 Budget Gains Momentum as Lacson Backs Sotto, Gatchalian

The push to scrap unprogrammed appropriations from the 2026 national budget gained more momentum as Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson threw his full support behind Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian.

Lacson said Saturday that he will add his voice to the Senate’s stand if the Senate and House contingents meet on the matter at the bicameral conference committee.

“Our agreement was that there will be no unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 budget, but we will allow funding for foreign-assisted projects that are necessary. Funds in the unprogrammed appropriations for other purposes will be removed,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson, Suportado sina Sotto at Gatchalian: Alisin ang Unprogrammed Appropriations sa 2026 Budget

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