Lacson backs Marcos’s anti-corruption push on flood control, budget

Senator Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson on Monday praised President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for taking a strong stance against corruption in government flood control projects and for vowing to scrutinize the upcoming 2026 national budget, as outlined in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Lacson highlighted his favorite line from the speech, where Marcos called out those involved in anomalous projects with the blunt statement, "MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO!" (Shame on you!).

The senator said he was especially encouraged when the President demanded accountability for what he described as graft-ridden flood control initiatives, emphasizing that both government officials and private contractors should be held responsible.

“I clapped the loudest and the longest when he mentioned about the graft-ridden flood control projects, even calling for an accounting of the same while holding accountable those responsible, whether government officials or private contractors," Lacson said.

“I clapped even louder when the President announced that he will return the 2026 budget bill passed by Congress not aligned with the National Expenditure Program. That would make my scrutiny of the General Appropriations Bill easier with less insertions and realignments,” he added.

Lacson had previously raised concerns over the country’s persistent flooding problems despite nearly P2 trillion allocated to flood management since 2011. He estimated that almost half of these funds, allocated to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), may have been lost to corruption.

He reaffirmed his commitment to actively expose “pork barrel” insertions in the national budget, whether as part of the minority or a conscience bloc in the Senate.

In his SONA, Marcos recounted his inspection of areas affected by typhoons and the southwest monsoon. He revealed that many flood control projects were either failed, unfinished, or non-existent — likely due to kickbacks and other corrupt practices.

"To those who connived to steal public funds and rob our people of their future, you should be ashamed, for the houses destroyed by floods and for the younger generations that will inherit debts for the projects whose funds you pocketed,” Marcos said in Filipino.

The President announced that the government will compile a list of all flood control projects carried out in the past three years. The list will be reviewed by Regional Project Monitoring Committees, which will flag failed or ghost projects. The findings will be made public, and contractors found guilty will face charges.

As for the 2026 budget, Marcos declared that he would veto any General Appropriations Bill not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program — even if it means operating on a reenacted budget.