The camp of Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson confirmed that the statement of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez during the House Committee on Infrastructure hearing matched their findings: a ₱355 million allocation was inserted into the 2025 national budget, covering five identified projects.
“We found one, mayroon talagang insertion na wala sa House version pero lumabas ito dun sa… after BiCam (Bicameral Conference) and we went further, mayroon nang limang projects identified na na-award na out of the ₱355 million,” Lacson said.
Lacson added that he has instructed his staff to verify the current status of the five projects funded by the said budget insertion.
He also confirmed plans to ask the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) about the matter, noting that the amount may be part of the ₱142 billion worth of Senate insertions into the 2025 national budget. However, he admitted it would be difficult to identify the lawmaker behind the insertion.
“’Yun ang bigger challenge because walang record, walang record, ang record lang dito is a piece of paper, whether toilet paper or yellow pad or yung stationary, minsan dun lang sinusulat, ang may hawak nito, yung Chairperson ng Finance Committee or yung Appropriations Committee Chairman,” Lacson stressed.
It may be recalled that former Senator Grace Poe and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co led the preparation of the 2025 national budget.