Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has vowed to work with Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to ensure transparency in the budget process as deliberations on the P6.793-trillion draws near.

SENATOR PANFILO M. LACSON

This, after Gatchalian, who now chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, vowed to ensure transparency in the deliberations of the national budget and proposing to upload online all documents pertaining to it.

“His proposal to upload online the documents related to the budget is a good one. It will mean a lot to see which lawmaker made which insertions that the President described as not aligning with the National Expenditure Program,” Lacson said in Filipino, in an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel on Monday evening.

Lacson said Gatchalian’s initiative is “a breath of fresh air,”  “and someone who means what he says, will follow through on his initiatives.”

On Monday, Gatchalian said he will require the publication of the entire budget process on the government’s website, starting from the budget requests of agencies to the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) and the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

According to Gatchalian, this year would be “a golden age of transparency and accountability.”

Lacson, who had refiled a bill ensuring public participation in the budget process including the bicameral conference committee,  said he is ready to work with Gatchalian and other like-minded lawmakers.

"Breaking the cycle and culture of budget insertions and realignments is a big challenge. I hope we, and other like-minded senators, will work together to ensure transparency in the budget process," he said.

Moreover, Lacson said he also supports President Marcos’ promise of disowning his allies who would be found to engage in anomalous deals, saying this deserves encouragement from the public.

A long-time enemy of corruption, Lacson said he is also doing his own research on questionable flood control projects.

“The President is on a roll and we should encourage him some more.  When he called out the members of Congress with his now most-quoted 'Mahiya naman kayo' remark, followed by his announcement yesterday that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already submitted its report on the defective and anomalous flood control projects, the ball is now in his hands to make good on his promise to make accountable all those involved - errant contractors and their cohorts in government," he said.

"That said, I am confident na 'mahihiya naman ang Pangulo (the President will be embarrassed)' if he fails to walk the talk," he added, referring to the President’s remark during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28, aimed at those involved in fraudulent flood control projects.

He noted that his investigation so far showed that the budget for flood control projects since 2011 for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) actually exceeded P2 trillion - yet has failed to stop the flooding problem.

“For the past 15 years since 2011, it turns out that more than P2 trillion had been allocated for the DPWH in the GAA. This includes drainage and desilting. It is hard to audit dredging," Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

The senator further said he and his staff are currently doing their own research on the anomalous flood control projects.

“On my part, I have been doing my own research and if there are questionable projects not included in the DPWH report but we are able to identify, backed by evidence - I will also expose, maybe in a privilege speech or in another forum - but I will make sure the public will be informed,” he said.

“If our findings are not in the list of questionable projects submitted by the DPWH, we will furnish the DPWH or the Office of the President with copies of our findings,” he added in Filipino.

According to Lacson, he is encouraged by the actions being taken by both houses of Congress to ensure transparency in the budget process.

“At the rate everyone is gearing towards transparency in the budget, that's a good indication. I hope these efforts will be sustained,” he said.