MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said he will scrutinize the use of some P255.5 billion from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control funds that were realigned to farm-to-market roads, “ayuda” programs, and “Super Health Centers” in the proposed 2026 national budget.

Lacson said an initial check of the budget realignments showed that the funds were diverted to these items, as well as to “ayuda” programs that may be financed through unprogrammed appropriations. He added that part of the realignments went to the Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP), which supports the construction of Super Health Centers.

“Much of the realignments went to farm-to-market roads. The question is, is the list of such roads from the Department of Agriculture or from congressmen?” Lacson said.

“Some ayuda programs are to be funded by unprogrammed appropriations. We intend to uproot these and return them to the regular budget,” he added.

The senator said he will push to consolidate funds for “ayuda” and other social services under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which screens beneficiaries and provides livelihood and educational support to qualified families.

Lacson also proposed realigning around ₱2 billion allocated to lawmakers’ “Tulong Dunong” scholarship program to the Free Tertiary Education Act.

He said the Senate will move to remove “alien” and “turo-turo” items—as well as unprogrammed appropriations not linked to foreign-assisted projects—from the 2026 budget bill when deliberations begin next week.

Lacson defined “alien” as items not appearing in the disagreeing provisions between the Senate and House versions of the budget, while “turo-turo” refers to arbitrary, whimsical, and patronage-driven programs.

He said the Senate aims to redirect these questionable allocations to fund more meaningful programs such as the Universal Health Care (UHC) program.

Lacson also said he has discussed with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian the plan to consolidate funds for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) into the UHC. Under this plan, the Department of Health (DOH) would handle assistance directly, relieving lawmakers from issuing guarantee letters.

“Our work as lawmakers is to legislate and exercise oversight, not to implement laws,” Lacson said.

“Let’s make our programs systematic, and not whimsical, arbitrary and patronage-based,” he stressed.