Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday called for stricter and continuous oversight of government projects, stressing that the fight against corruption does not end with the approval of the national budget.
“We have already agreed on the figures, but strict oversight must continue from budgeting through project implementation if we truly want to stamp out corruption in the bureaucracy,” Gatchalian said.
He made the appeal following the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget, which is awaiting ratification by both chambers of Congress.
Once ratified, the budget measure will be transmitted to the President for review, marking the final stage of the legislative process before enactment into law.
The senator pointed out that lawmakers incorporated safeguard provisions into the General Appropriations Bill to strengthen transparency, accountability, and monitoring mechanisms across all sectors.
Despite these safeguards, he said sustained scrutiny remains necessary to ensure agencies comply with approved allocations and follow project specifications without shortcuts or irregularities.
“Through close oversight, a culture of integrity and accountability is built. We strictly implemented transparency measures throughout the entire budgeting process,” Gatchalian said.
According to him, infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways are a priority area for tighter supervision due to their size and vulnerability to abuse.
The Senate required each infrastructure item to carry a unique station number and a detailed project description to make monitoring easier and more precise.
Project listings now include specific locations and coordinates to help citizens, auditors, and watchdog groups verify whether projects actually exist.
“We hope these measures will help encourage the public to take part in the implementation of government projects,” the senator said.
