Senator Win Gatchalian said the Senate version of the proposed budget for 2026 is “lean, mean, and corruption-free.”

Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, made such an assurance as the upper chamber began deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget.

“Gusto natin na ang budget na ipe-present at aaprubahan later on ay lean, mean, and corruption-free. Ito po yung mga prinsipiyo na sinundan namin doon sa pagbabalangkas at pagbuo ng budget na ito,” the senator said, referring to the Senate version of the proposed budget.

He said such a guiding principle led to the significant reduction of unprogrammed funds in the Senate version, as unprogrammed funds have been identified to be a funding source of anomalous flood control projects.

To deter corruption in infrastructure projects, the Senate Finance Committee ensured that each project to be implemented by the DPWH has its own station number, which would enable the public to determine the exact location, scope, and actual cost of each project.

In addition, the committee utilized the revised Construction Materials Price Data in allocating budget for each DPWH project to further strengthen safeguards against corruption. He added that the DPWH budget also saw an additional reduction of P55.91 billion, following a cut from the original proposal under the national expenditure program.

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS GATCHALIAN