With safeguards among others in place and with continued public vigilance, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson holds high hopes that the 2026 budget will help bring positive change for Filipinos.
Lacson lauded the Senate panel in the bicameral conference committee led by Senate finance committee Win Gatchalian for fighting for the safeguards and transparency measures the Senate has inserted.
“Amid all the disinformation and unreasonable criticisms, we have all the reasons to be proud of our Senate panel.”
“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,” the veteran legislator said.
“Adjustments must be made both ways.”
“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,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
Among the safeguards the Senate put in place were:
* Absolutely no guarantee letters allowed and any form of ‘epal’ for all ‘ayudas’;
* Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) should be implemented strictly under the auspices of Universal Health Care program and in pursuit of complying with the UHC law;
* Monthly oversight on infra and FMR projects implementation, complete with grid coordinates for easy monitoring by media and the public
The senator also reiterated his call to the public to join him and like-minded lawmakers in remaining vigilant against abuses of public funds, even after the budget is ratified by Congress and signed into law by the President.
“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,” he concluded.
