Manila: Senator Francis Escudero emphasized on Thursday the need for local government units (LGUs) to play a more significant role in identifying infrastructure projects within their jurisdictions. This, he argues, would ensure that public funds are allocated to beneficial programs that genuinely serve the community’s needs.
According to Philippines News Agency, Escudero suggested that this approach should be integral to the preparation of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and subsequent national budgets. He pointed out that recent issues with substandard and ‘ghost’ flood control projects highlight the pressing need for meaningful reforms in the government’s infrastructure planning and budgeting processes.
Escudero criticized the arbitrary budget insertions made by lawmakers, often in collaboration with certain Executive officials, which bypass the established scrutiny of the budget process. He stressed the importance of conducting proper feasibility studies and confirming the necessity of projects before they are included in the budget.
To address these concerns, Escudero has proposed the Grassroots Infrastructure Planning and Budgeting Act. This legislation would mandate that all infrastructure projects receive prior endorsement from the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the relevant Provincial, City, or Municipal Development Council and their respective Sanggunian (Boards) before being incorporated into the National Expenditure Program (NEP) presented to Congress.
Escudero further explained that LGU endorsement should be obligatory even for amendments introduced by lawmakers during budget deliberations, ensuring that local priorities are maintained. The proposed bill stipulates that without RDC endorsement or approval, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will not release funds for any project.
He called on his fellow legislators in both chambers of Congress to prioritize the passage of this measure, emphasizing that it would help curb budget irregularities and strengthen transparency and accountability in the national budgeting process.
