Senator Erwin Tulfo on Sunday called for random, on-the-ground inspections of government projects to ensure public funds are properly spent, backing the creation of a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of programs under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Tulfo, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said Congress should not rely solely on reports submitted by department heads and agency officials, stressing the need for direct verification of projects funded by the national budget.
“If you will ask me, I would not just rely on the report from the secretary or the directors. We probably really need a person on the ground to conduct random checks,” Tulfo said in a statement.
“For example, is a project really being carried out?” he added, citing past experiences where, he said, officials at various levels allegedly covered for one another, leading to irregularities in project implementation.
“We’ve seen how regional directors cover for district engineers and how even secretaries can be involved,” Tulfo said.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier this week signed the 2026 national budget into law, vetoing P92.5 billion worth of projects under unprogrammed appropriations.
Tulfo said strong congressional oversight is necessary, especially in light of issues that hounded previous budgets, including the alleged mishandling of flood control funds.
“I agree that both Houses of Congress should have oversight mechanisms—committees—to monitor spending in the 2026 budget,” he said.
“We just came out of 2025, where the budget was really squandered. Of course, we have to make sure that this won’t happen again and that the people’s money will truly go to the right purposes this year,” he added.
Asked about the credibility of a joint oversight committee, given allegations that some lawmakers had inserted or endorsed projects in the 2026 budget, Tulfo said the panel’s primary role would be to ensure transparency and credibility in reporting.
He also welcomed a proposal by Senate Finance Committee chair Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian to include all vice chairpersons of the committee in the oversight body.
“Oh, thank God that I am included,” Tulfo said. “I will really push for us to witness the implementation of the projects. There are so many projects—big projects, small projects, farm-to-market roads, irrigation projects. We can inspect them randomly.”