Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday, December 24 refuted reports alleging he and other senators requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for projects under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP). “I categorically deny claims that I was among those who requested the...
The bicameral conference committee late Tuesday night, Dec. 17, approved the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed P889-million budget for 2026. "The Senate proposes the National Expenditure Program (NEP) level of P889 million," Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin...
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has proposed the inclusion of transparency and accountability mechanisms in the irrigation projects implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in a bid to prevent the repeat of anomalous flood control projects. The senator, who heads the...
There is a so-called “leadership fund” in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) which is included in the preparation of the government’s annual national budget. Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan disclosed this at the continuation of the Senate Blue...
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson on Tuesday, Sept. 9, showed proof of the involvement of a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official who allegedly called up and invited at least one lawmaker to make early insertions in the budget for 2026. In a privilege speech, Lacson presented a...
President Marcos said the proposed 2026 national budget contains no allocation for new flood control projects, stressing that the government must first ensure ongoing works are completed properly. Speaking in his latest podcast episode, the President explained that the Department of Public Works...
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stressed that the National Expenditure Program (NEP) should serve as a guide for lawmakers in budget deliberations, not as a fixed target. Bersamin said this after he issued a sharper rebuke to lawmakers on Saturday, Sept. 6, rejecting suggestions that the 2026...
Malacañang bristled at attempts by some members of the House of Representatives to pin the blame for alleged anomalies in the proposed 2026 budget on the Executive, urging lawmakers instead to confront corruption within their own ranks. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said this after House...
President Marcos is open to ordering a “sweeping review” of the proposed 2026 budget across government agencies, not just the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Malacañang said. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after lawmakers flagged alleged anomalies in the...
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday, September 4 said that while the House of Representatives cannot return the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026 back to Malacañang to fix the “mangled” entries there, another option is available. For instance, Lacson said the Department of...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Saturday, Aug. 30, that he already flagged questionable allocations in the budget request of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026, similar to what Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson had already exposed. In an interview with DWIZ, Gatchalian...
Three days were added to the legislative calendar of the first regular session of the 20th Congress to accommodate the timely transmittal, deliberation, and approval of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). This was made through the adoption on Tuesday, Aug. 12, of Senate Concurrent...
