Manila: Senators Panfilo Lacson and Sherwin Gatchalian are set to collaborate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to address and realign PHP51.82 billion in questionable 'distinct' insertions found in the proposed 2026 national budget.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senator Lacson flagged these lump-sum allocations during a Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing, highlighting their vague nature and potential for misuse. These allocations include multiple entries for flood management programs in Metro Manila and Regions 1, 2, and 3, all featuring identical costs but lacking specific project details.
Senator Lacson, together with Senator Gatchalian, expressed their intention to remove these vague entries from the National Expenditure Program (NEP). Lacson noted the difficulty in identifying the origin of these insertions and emphasized the need to redirect funds to priority programs aligned with the Philippine Medium-Term Development Plan.
The flagged appropriations consist of 88 items valued at PHP150 million each, 373 items at PHP100 million each, and 11 items at PHP120 million each. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, present at the DBCC hearing, agreed to work with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on realigning the funds following Lacson's suggestion for executive sessions to determine appropriate project funding.
Senator Lacson, in a previous speech, referred to the repeated allocations with the same contract cost as 'distinct,' signaling a coded budget system that could lead to ghost projects. He warned of the risks posed when contractors and lawmakers become intertwined in the construction business, resulting in vague budget insertions appearing throughout various stages of the budget process.
