Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Thursday expressed optimism that the proposed 2026 national budget could deliver tangible improvements for Filipinos if safeguards, transparency measures, and sustained vigilance against misuse of public funds are consistently enforced.
According to the veteran lawmaker, the inclusion of institutional checks and safety mechanisms in the budget framework increases the likelihood that public spending will translate into meaningful social and economic outcomes rather than leakages or politically motivated disbursements.
“Amid all the disinformation and unreasonable criticisms, we have all the reasons to be proud of our Senate panel under the leadership of our Finance Chair Senator Win. I give my two thumbs up from start to finish,” said Lacson.
He acknowledged that the budget process operates within practical constraints, and that compromise and adjustment are inevitable in reconciling differences between the two chambers of Congress and the executive branch.
Among the safeguards retained by the Senate is a strict prohibition on the issuance of guarantee letters and all forms of self-promotional activities tied to the distribution of government aid.
The Senate also pushed for the firm implementation of the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program strictly within the framework of the Universal Health Care law.
Aligning medical assistance with existing health statutes, he said, is intended to prevent discretionary allocation and ensure that aid reaches beneficiaries based on clear and uniform standards.
Another key safeguard involves monthly congressional oversight of infrastructure projects, including farm to market roads, to enhance monitoring and deter irregularities during project implementation.
The oversight mechanism includes the use of grid coordinates to allow media organizations and the public to independently track project locations and verify progress on the ground.
“We do not live in a perfect world, much less in an ideal situation, so we cannot be perfectionists and idealistic given the circumstances. That’s why adjustments must be made both ways,” he said.
Lacson called on citizens to remain engaged and vigilant even after the budget is ratified by Congress and signed into law, stressing that accountability does not end with approval.
“As long as we all remain vigilant in guarding against abuse of public funds, we can always remain hopeful that things can change for the better,” the senator said.
