Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson assured that the 2026 national budget will be approved on time, stressing that lawmakers will not allow a reenacted budget.
“Napakaimportante ng budget kasi ‘pag wala tayong budget, reenacted tayo? Hindi namin papayagin ganoon. Napakalaking lump sum appropriations kung gagamitin mo budget ng 2025 na napakaraming problema,” Lacson said in a radio interview on Saturday.
He added that Senate leadership has prohibited budget insertions during the bicameral conference, making discussions faster and more efficient.
“Baka mapaikli natin ‘yung bicameral conference kasi wala na ‘yung singitan, mga bulungan na hindi naman kasama sa either version ipapasok doon. Doon nagkakaloko-loko eh,” Lacson said.
Once enacted, Lacson described the 2026 budget as potentially the “most transparent and corrupt-free national budget,” addressing public concerns raised over questionable insertions in the 2025 budget.