Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday, September 2 called on Malacañang to draw up a “negative list” of infrastructure projects that cannot be funded under the 2026 national budget and should be vetoed outright by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Escudero said these should be items that the government believes would only drain funds meant for essential programs. 

“Instead of waiting for questionable projects to slip into the budget and then expose them after the fact, we should be proactive. The Palace should make it clear from the start that these kinds of projects will not be entertained,” Escudero said.

The Senate chief warned there will be a flood of useless projects if lawmakers are unable to identify which projects should be banned.

“There should be zero budget for zero-benefit projects,” said Escudero, who once headed the Senate Committee on Finance, saying it is more beneficial to prioritize important infrastructure initiatives.

Among the projects that should be included in the negative list are low-value but overpriced road devices, such as reflective studs or “cat’s eyes,” slope protection nets and paints, he said.

He said the same should be done with so-called “vanity projects” like waiting sheds, swimming pools, signages, and other non-essential amenities, which are prone to budgetary abuse and waste.

The Senate President is also suggested a possible moratorium on new flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026, as billions of pesos in allocations under the 2025 budget remain unimplemented.

“Tapusin muna natin ang pending projects at ayusin natin ang plano bago natin ituloy ang mga ito (Let's finish the pending projects first and adjust the plan before we continue with them). We should give (new DPWH) Secretary (Vince) Dizon the opportunity to fix the system first,” he said. 

“Let’s redirect those funds to waste-to-energy plants, refuse-derived fuel facilities, and other measures that address garbage, clogged drainage systems, and reduced water-holding capacity in rivers and waterways. These are among the real drivers of flooding in Metro Manila and other urban centers,” the Senate leader pointed out. 

The “negative list”, he said, should also serve as a guide to both the Executive and Legislative branches, with a stern warning that congressionally-sponsored projects in violation of the list will be vetoed by the President.

“The message must be clear: What is forbidden, do not insist on it. All sorts of budgetary adventurism are being injected every year so it needs to be stopped before it can be included in the GAA (General Appropriations Act),” the Senate chief said.