LAWMAKERS are setting the stage for rigorous oversight of the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, with key senators pledging to purge questionable allocations and enforce unprecedented transparency throughout the legislative process.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson flagged dubious lump-sum appropriations hidden within infrastructure line items in the newly transmitted National Expenditure Program (NEP).
While acknowledging that lump-sum funds are necessary for unpredictable emergencies like calamity responses, Lacson argued that infrastructure allocations require explicit, itemized cost breakdowns to prevent abuse.
“We spotted lump-sum appropriations that we don’t think should be lump sum,” Lacson stated, adding that he intends to formally demand clarification from executive officials during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefings scheduled for August 27 and 28.
Beyond lump-sum figures, Lacson and his team are scrutinizing special provisions involving ₱111.9 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.
He warned against covert insertions reminiscent of previous budget cycles, where last-minute bicameral conference provisions attempted to unconstitutionally siphon funds from government-owned entities like PhilHealth into the National Treasury.
To counter these systemic issues, newly appointed Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. JV Ejercito assured that he will prohibit unvetted, last-minute insertions at the bicameral stage—a commitment praised by Lacson.
Ejercito, who faces a heavy workload balancing budget reviews with ongoing Senate duties, reaffirmed his commitment to holding open, livestreamed bicameral proceedings.
“Not all amendments and insertions are bad, but it should be done in open plenary,” Ejercito emphasized, highlighting priority funding for Universal Health Care, completion of ongoing flood-control initiatives, and major transit developments like the Mindanao Railway System.
Supporting these reform efforts, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. backed open-door bicameral sessions, urging the participation of civil society organizations, educators, and religious groups.
Additionally, Lacson reiterated his call to align national spending with local development councils under Executive Order 82, ensuring taxpayers’ money directly addresses community needs rather than top-down political agendas.
