For the first time in a long while, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson cast his affirmative vote on Monday to ratify the P6.793-trillion budget for 2026 – but with a strong reservation due to items that keep the door open to potential political patronage.
In his manifestation on the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the 2026 budget bill, Lacson particularly stressed his reservation on appropriations for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
He manifested as well his reservation over other social welfare programs or “ayuda” that are “discretionary and duplicative of institutionalized and rules-based programs, and other similar budget items that lack agency requests.”
“For the first time in a long while, I am voting YES for the ratification of the bicameral report on the proposed national budget for 2026. HOWEVER, WITH THIS AFFIRMATIVE VOTE COMES A STRONG RESERVATION,” he said.
“The national budget must not be a political tool or spoils for those in power. We deserve a budget that truly serves the people, free from political exploitation,” he stressed. “While we have made headway, the path forward remains extensive.”
In airing his reservations, Lacson cited the lack of solid legal foundation for fund allocations of the MAIFIP, AICS and similar programs.
He also cited the “absence of institutional safeguards from the interference, influence, representation, whether directly or indirectly, of incumbent public officials, electoral candidates, politicians, or any of their representatives over any aspect of the programs’ implementation — a clear manifestation of how our budget is not insulated from political patronage.”
Still, Lacson commended the Senate finance committee led by its chairman Sherwin Gatchalian “for standing our ground in defending and crafting a reformed national budget for FY 2026.”
“For the first time in the history of our nation, the public was granted unrestricted access to the budget books and deliberations, ensuring the highest standard of scrutiny and moving beyond closed-door politics to a budget answerable to the people,” he said.
