Lacson urges tighter budget protections

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has urged the Senate to adopt clear and foolproof safeguards in the proposed P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget to prevent political interference and abuse.

He specifically highlighted three contentious areas: the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), funding for farm-to-market roads, and the restoration of the Department of Public Works and Highways budget.

In a television interview on Tuesday, Lacson emphasized that public funds must be shielded from corruption.

“Safeguards are important to me, to make sure that public funds in the budget do not go to corruption. That is the bottom line for me,” he said, adding that he might side with the minority bloc in withholding ratification if the measures are not “foolproof.”

Lacson earlier raised concerns over the MAIFIP, which he said has been misused through the issuance of guarantee letters by lawmakers, thereby limiting the reach of the Universal Health Care program.

“The implementation of health care must be politically blind and objective,” he said, stressing that legislators’ role is strictly to craft the budget, not implement it.

To tackle the issue, the Senate passed Lacson’s “anti-epal” amendment, which bars and penalizes any political meddling in the distribution of the aid.

The amendment will be applied broadly, covering the MAIFIP and other aid programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations. Additional funding is expected to be directed to the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to meet public health needs.

On the other hand, Lacson said additional safeguards are being considered to ensure the integrity of projects, particularly farm-to-market programs.