MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said the bicameral conference committee-approved ₱6.793-trillion 2026 national budget now includes strong safeguards to prevent “ghost” projects, overpricing, and political patronage, following public outrage over the 2025 flood-control controversy.

“Ekis na ang patago at ‘alok-able’ na mga usapan na nagreresulta sa ‘ghost’ projects, overpricing, at mga public-infra peddlers o mga political middlemen. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, livestreamed ang buong proseso mula sa subcommittee at committee hearings, House at Senate approvals, hanggang bicam,” Pangilinan, a member of the bicameral panel, said.

He added that citizen groups, such as the People’s Budget Coalition, helped shape policies and provisions to strengthen transparency and accountability in the budget process. “Bukod sa pagpapanagot sa mga nangurakot na noon, naglagay tayo ng mga safeguard para hindi na ito maulit muli,” he said.

Under the 2026 budget, agriculture infrastructure projects — including farm-to-market roads and National Irrigation Administration projects — are now accompanied by annexes identifying exact locations with geo-tagged coordinates, detailed engineering designs, and validated cost estimates. Timelines, contractors, and fund releases must be posted on publicly accessible dashboards, minimizing unverifiable “paper projects.”

The budget also institutionalizes Citizen Participatory Audits (CPA) across agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, and local government units in coordination with the Commission on Audit. Accredited civil society groups can participate in audit planning and project validation, with their findings formally reflected in COA reports submitted to Congress.

In social services, the 2026 budget limits patronage by ensuring aid reaches beneficiaries directly. For the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program, earmarking funds for specific offices or districts is prohibited, and releases must follow eligibility rules with disclosures through Department of Health platforms.

Feeding programs and food procurement under the Sagip Saka Act (Republic Act 11321) must prioritize direct purchases from farmers and fisherfolk, with quarterly consolidated reports submitted to Congress to ensure transparency and traceability.

The General Appropriations Bill will be returned to both chambers for ratification before being transmitted to the Office of the President for signature. According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the country loses an estimated ₱700 billion to ₱1.4 trillion annually to unverified projects and leakages.

“Dapat lesson na sa ating lahat ang flood-control scandal. Kaya tuloy lang tayo sa pagbabantay. Ang pagpasa ng budget ay simula pa lamang. Mahalaga rin ang mahigpit na pagbabantay sa paggasta ng pera ng taumbayan,” Pangilinan said.