Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday called for clear and foolproof safeguards to prevent abuse and political patronage in at least three contentious provisions of the proposed ₱6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.
Lacson said political interference must be eliminated from the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program, funding for farm to market roads, and the request of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to restore budget cuts.
“I’m studying whether the safeguards are foolproof so that politicians can’t interfere. Safeguards are what’s important to me to ensure the funds in the GAA (General Appropriations Act) are not misused. That’s the bottom line for me,” he said.
The veteran lawmaker warned that if the safeguards remain unclear or weak, he is prepared to side with senators who may refuse to sign the ratification of the national budget.
Lacson said his position is rooted in his longstanding advocacy to fix systemic problems in the budget process rather than advance sector specific priorities such as health or education.
Earlier, he said he would not sign the ratified budget bill if provisions allocating large sums to MAIFIP and questionable farm-to-market road projects are not corrected.
He said MAIFIP, which has been linked to the issuance of guarantee letters by lawmakers and political figures, has undermined the full implementation of the Universal Health Care program at the barangay level.
Government health programs, according to the senator, should be implemented objectively and without political bias.
“It should be very objective and blind, with no political bias in its implementation. It needs to be based on data, not chosen by a congressman. We are still studying what additional safeguards are needed to protect the integrity of farm-to-market roads,” he said.
Regarding the DPWH request to restore budget cuts, Lacson said the agency must first clarify alleged errors in its own computations that formed the basis of the Senate reductions.
“If you find it hard to balance, just stick to what’s right so you don’t go astray. Do what is right,” he advised.
