Dismayed over an average of P300 billion a year in unused funds from the national budget from 2011 to 2020, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said development projects being advocated by lawmakers should undergo proper planning and consultation with the proper local authorities and implementing agencies.
Even if a project is “inserted” into the National Expenditure Program, there should be no problem as long as it underwent proper consultations.
The standard bearer of Partido Reporma in the upcoming elections said the country cannot afford to continue wasting hundreds of billions of pesos in unutilized funds in the budget due to “pork”-related corruption.
He said that while lawmakers have the right to amend the National Expenditure Program by inserting their projects, there should be no “commissions” involved.
“It’s the right of lawmakers to propose amendments to the NEP. What is bad is that some use their earmarks to get commissions or up to 40 percent. That is the part that is unacceptable,” he said.
“That’s why from 2011 to 2020, an average of P300 billion a year in the budget went unused – all because of the insertions by some lawmakers. How can agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways implement the projects if they were not consulted?” he added.
As a senator, Lacson has flagged billions of pesos in questionable projects in his yearly scrutiny of the national budget.
He found out the projects “inserted” by some lawmakers did not undergo proper planning or consultation.
Lacson said this is all made worse by the fact that Filipinos are still mired in poverty amid the pandemic.