Senator Francis Escudero on Sunday urged Congress to institutionalize the participation of local government units (LGUs) in crafting and implementing infrastructure projects under the 2026 national budget.
He called on the Senate and House finance leaders to show genuine budget reform by giving LGUs a greater role in identifying community-based projects.
Escudero said Congress still has time to add safeguards to the ₱6.352-trillion proposed budget to prevent misuse of public funds. He proposed that the endorsement of Regional Development Councils (RDCs) be made a mandatory requirement for all infrastructure projects included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) to ensure alignment with regional priorities.
In a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, Escudero suggested incorporating the requirement into the 2026 GAA, even before a separate law is passed. He said this would help eliminate unnecessary or “ghost” projects.
The senator earlier filed Senate Bill No. 1459, or the Grassroots Infrastructure Planning and Budgeting Act, to formalize LGU participation in the budget process. He cited testimonies from mayors and governors who said they were not consulted on certain projects, particularly flood control programs.
Escudero said fund releases and procurement for these projects should depend on prior RDC endorsement, covering departments such as Agriculture, Public Works, Health, and Education. “This is the spirit of bottom-up budgeting—making the process more efficient, effective, and meaningful for the people,” he said.
