Manila: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson announced on Wednesday that more than PHP79 billion has potentially been lost to ghost flood control projects since 2016. Lacson, along with Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian, estimated this figure after inspecting nearly 10,000 projects, over 600 of which were identified as ghost or nonexistent.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lacson explained in a media interview that the PHP79 billion estimate only pertains to ghost projects and does not include substandard projects, road projects, or multi-purpose buildings. Lacson has previously spoken about the corruption involved in these substandard and ghost flood control projects.
He pointed out that the PHP110 million returned by former Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer Henry Alcantara was insignificant, even though Alcantara is expected to return an additional PHP200 million soon. Lacson stated that the Blue Ribbon panel is prepared to assist agencies like the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of the Ombudsman in pursuing those involved, should new information arise.
Lacson emphasized that the Senate has started addressing the issues surrounding these dubious flood control projects by promoting transparency in the national budget process. Measures such as livestreaming amendment periods and making public individual amendments aim to prevent allocables, leadership funds, and other forms of pork barrel in the 2026 budget.
He mentioned that unlike previous practices, amendments are now introduced on the floor, rather than being submitted on paper to the finance committee chair. Lacson expressed confidence in Gatchalian's leadership, noting that the majority bloc has entrusted and supported him in deciding which amendments to accept or reject.
Additionally, Lacson revealed that the Senate and House of Representatives have agreed to streamline the bicameral conference committee proceedings, focusing only on conflicting provisions between the Senate and House versions of the budget bill and excluding any unrelated provisions inserted into either version.
