Senator Erwin Tulfo on Sunday, January 11, called on Congress to conduct random inspections of all government projects funded under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Tulfo, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, expressed support for the creation of a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of programs and projects under this year’s 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,” he said, emphasizing that on-site inspections will help ensure public funds are not squandered.
“We’ve seen how regional directors cover for district engineers and how even secretaries can be involved,” Tulfo added, referencing controversies surrounding government flood control projects.
He said oversight mechanisms should cover allegations that some lawmakers may have inserted or endorsed “pet projects” in the 2026 budget.
“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 said.
Tulfo also confirmed his readiness to participate in the oversight committee alongside other vice chairpersons, highlighting the need to inspect projects of all sizes, from farm-to-market roads to irrigation systems.
Earlier this month, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the 2026 national budget into law, vetoing ₱92.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.