The participation of the civil society and non-government organizations in the budget process will be ensured under a government headed by Partido Reporma presidential bet Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, as a guarantee for transparency.
In an interview with radio DZRH program host Cesar Chavez, Lacson underscored the necessity of ensuring transparency in all government transactions and processes as a strong antidote against graft and corruption.
“Sa budget deliberation, nag-file nga ako ng bill dito transparency. Involve natin ‘yung mga CSOs (civil society organizations) at saka mga NGOs, i-accredit natin ito para sila’y nandiyan, present sila sa mga budget committee hearings, pwede silang tanungin as resource persons. (In budget deliberations, I filed a bill about transparency. Let us involve CSOs, NGOs, let’s accredit them to be present in budget committee hearings, they can be asked as resource persons),” said Lacson.
He stressed that local government units should also be advised about infrastructure projects that the national government is implementing within their areas of jurisdiction.
Lacson recalled an incident when a mayor in a undisclosed province who narrated how he followed up a road concreting project in his locality during his first two terms but his efforts failed. On his third term as chief executive, a contractor, accompanied by Department of Public Works and HIghways personnel, approached the mayor to inform him that he was awarded a contract to implement a road widening project.
Since there was no road to speak of, what the contractor did was to construct two outer lanes of the supposed road that did not have a paved lane in the middle.
Lacson’s campaign for the presidency revolves around a leadership by example policy in addressing various concerns in the country, more particularly graft and corruption.
The senator already set such an example when he was able to dismantle so-called “kotong” (extortion) cops during his terms as chief of the Philippine National Police.
Since his first term as senator, Lacson has not received funds to finance infrastructure and other development projects he chose. Considered as “pork barrel”, such funds are allotted to all lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.