Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday expressed optimism that the proposed 2026 national budget will help deliver positive change for Filipinos, citing safeguards and transparency measures inserted by the Senate and sustained public vigilance against abuse of public funds.

Lacson lauded the Senate contingent to the bicameral conference committee, led by Senate Committee on Finance Chair Sherwin Gatchalian, for pushing through measures aimed at strengthening accountability in the spending plan.

“Amid all the disinformation and unreasonable criticisms, we have all the reasons to be proud of our Senate panel under the leadership of our Finance Chair Senator Win. I give my two thumbs up from start to finish,” Lacson said.

He acknowledged that crafting the national budget requires compromise, stressing that lawmakers must balance ideals with the realities on the ground.

“We do not live in a perfect world, much less in an ideal situation, so we cannot be perfectionists and idealistic given the circumstances. That’s why adjustments must be made both ways,” he added.

Among the key safeguards inserted by the Senate are a strict ban on guarantee letters and any form of “epal” or self-promotion in the distribution of government assistance; the requirement that the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) be implemented strictly under the Universal Health Care (UHC) program; and the conduct of monthly oversight on infrastructure and farm-to-market road projects, complete with grid coordinates to enable easier monitoring by the media and the public.

Lacson underscored that the passage of the budget should not mark the end of scrutiny, urging citizens to remain watchful even after the spending measure is ratified by Congress and signed into law by the President.

“As long as we all remain vigilant in guarding against abuse of public funds, we can always remain hopeful that things can change for the better,” he said.