Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday urged Malacañang to craft a “negative list” of infrastructure projects that should be barred from the 2026 national budget.
“Instead of waiting for questionable projects to slip into the budget and then expose them after the fact, we should be proactive,” he said.
“The Palace should make it clear from the start that these kinds of projects will not be entertained,” the Senate chief added.
Escudero said the negative list should guide both the Executive and Legislative branches during the budget process, and argued that projects with little to no public benefit should not receive a single peso of funding from the government.
He recommended that overpriced and low-value items such as reflective studs, slope protection nets, and paints be blacklisted.
The lawmaker also pointed to “vanity projects” like waiting sheds, swimming pools, and decorative signages, which he said are susceptible to budgetary abuse.
He added that prioritizing such amenities only diverts funds away from critical infrastructure.
“Let’s redirect those funds to waste-to-energy plants, refuse-derived fuel facilities, and other measures that address garbage, clogged drainage systems, and reduced water-holding capacity in rivers and waterways,” Escudero urged.
“These are among the real drivers of flooding in Metro Manila and other urban centers,” the Senate leader continued.
Escudero is also considering a moratorium on new flood control projects for 2026, noting that many of the billions allocated for flood mitigation in the 2025 budget remain unimplemented.
“Let’s finish the pending projects first and fix the plan before moving forward with new ones. We should give Secretary (Vince) Dizon the opportunity to fix the system first,” he added.
