Lacson slams P15M ‘cut and paste’ budget proposal for road improvement

Sen. Panfilo Lacson. PRIB Photo

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said a P15 million project for road improvements, which appears to be a “cut and paste” from the original request, caught his attention while scrutinizing the 2020 national budget.

“Poring through the NEP vs House version of the budget bill, one project worth 15m pesos is annoyingly described, “Requesting for the improvement of a road…”  It’s interesting to find out how they can implement a request,” he said in a Twitter post.’

The NEP or National Expenditure Program contains Malacanang’s original budget proposal.

But when asked about his initial assessment of the House of Representatives’ approved version of the 2020 budget,   Lacson replied:  “So far that one which we found both in the NEP and House version, which would indicate sloppy work.”

“Initially, I look at it as sloppy work, since it appears to be ‘cut and paste’ from the original request as submitted by the proponent. Obviously no vetting was done at all,” Lacson added.

He did not identify the proponent of the project but said the proposal was intended for a province in Cagayan Valley.

“What we are doing is in compliance with the SP’s (Senate President Vicente Sotto III) instruction to scrutinize the 2020 budget with a fine-tooth comb,” he explained.

The House of Representatives approved the proposed 2020 budget on September 20, 2019, but only submitted it to the Senate last October 1.

READ: House swiftly OKs P4.1-T nat’l budget for 2020 after only a month of debates

Lacson said he will hold a comprehensive briefing on the 2020 budget on Tuesday with his research staff. /gsg