Senator Lacson flags lump-sum infrastructure funds in proposed 2027 national budget

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Saturday flagged what he called “questionable” lump-sum allocations for infrastructure projects in the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, promising to demand full transparency from executive officials.

Lacson said he intends to scrutinize these items during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing set for Aug. 27.

“We spotted lump-sum appropriations that we don't think should be lump sum. An aggregate amount was appropriated for a project, activity, or program (PAP)—or group of projects—without detailing the cost breakdown,” Lacson said.

While acknowledging that flexible, non-itemized funds are standard for unpredictable events like disaster response, Lacson emphasized that infrastructure projects require explicit details.

Lacson and his legislative staff have begun analyzing the National Expenditure Program (NEP), which was transmitted to Congress earlier this week. Aside from line items, his team is examining special provisions that could potentially be used to circumvent rules on unprogrammed appropriations.

To illustrate his concerns, Lacson recalled a past General Appropriations Act where the bicameral conference committee introduced two provisions he termed “highly questionable, if not unconstitutional.”

One provision rallowed the executive branch to siphon funds from government-owned and controlled corporations—including state health insurer PhilHealth—into the national treasury.

Another concerned foreign-assisted projects, which Lacson warned could have been disastrous if diverted from their intended purposes. Both provisions were eventually dropped from subsequent budgets.

The veteran lawmaker also expressed support for budget reforms introduced under former Senate finance committee chief and current Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, such as livestreaming bicameral proceedings and publishing budget documents online.

Furthermore, Lacson voiced confidence in current Senate Finance Committee Chair Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito, who assured him that no last-minute insertions would be permitted during bicameral negotiations unless they were part of either the House or Senate versions of the General Appropriations Bill.

“I hope that under Sen. JV's chairmanship, he fulfills his promise not to allow insertions at the bicam level,” Lacson said, noting that the policy addresses a persistent issue where unvetted items are smuggled into the budget's final draft.

Beyond budget transparency, Lacson renewed his long-standing call to give local government units (LGUs) and local development councils a greater voice in setting national spending priorities.

He urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to adjust its budget call timeline so proposals vetted by Regional Development Councils (RDCs) are integrated directly into the NEP.

To highlight the impact of bottom-up budgeting, Lacson shared a story from a coastal village in the Bicol region. Before receiving federal support, local fishermen had to haul their daily catch using improvised flatbed trolleys along railroad tracks, followed by tricycle and jeepney transfers—a journey taking nearly an entire day due to a missing bridge. After Lacson helped secure funding for the bridge, travel time was slashed to 45 minutes.

He noted that despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issuing Executive Order 82 in January 2025 to empower RDCs, a disconnect between local needs and national budget allocations remains.

“This early, we see many mayors visiting the Senate saying their priority projects didn't make it into the NEP,” Lacson observed. “This is what I have advocated for over 20 years. Local development councils must be prioritized because they are the ones who truly understand their constituents' needs.”