Metro Manila, Philippines – As the deadlock over the public works budget continues, a new controversy has emerged involving ₱8 billion in farm-to-market road (FMR) projects that supposedly slipped through the bicameral conference committee without critical information.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan raised the issue during a senators’ caucus, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
“At least ₱5 billion worth of FMR projects are not properly identified, even revised from what the Senate approved on 3rd reading, i.e. no grid coordinates, description, etc.,” Lacson said in a statement.
”Based on our majority caucus yesterday, we cannot and will not allow that. For the sake of full transparency, we stand four-square behind our panel under the leadership of its chairman, [Senator Win Gatchalian],” he added.
In a separate text message, Pangilinan clarified that the amount in question actually totaled ₱8 billion.
The bicameral conference committee, composed of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives tasked with finalizing the national budget, approved ₱33 billion in FMR projects under the Department of Agriculture on the first day of its meeting on Saturday.
House appropriations committee chairperson Mika Suansing moved for the ₱33-billion allocation, which is double the ₱16 billion in the Senate version and the National Expenditure Program.
“Will seek reconsideration of the approval of the FMR budget in the next bicam meeting if the list [of] these projects, complete with validation, coordinates from start to end and geo-tagging info, are not submitted and annexed,” Pangilinan said.
He explained that while the committee initially approved a list of FMR projects with complete details, “a new list with the same amount was resubmitted with ₱8 billion worth of projects lacking coordinates.”
”Still determining the facts,” Pangilinan said.
Lacson described the issue as being of “equal urgency and importance” to the unresolved budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which has stalled the proceedings.
The DPWH is seeking the restoration of ₱45 billion that the Senate had cut from its budget. Senators, however, said the reductions merely reflected overpriced items based on data submitted by the DPWH itself. The third day of meetings was postponed on Monday due to the dispute.
On Tuesday, the DPWH submitted updated information, which the Senate is still reviewing. There was no immediate word on whether the meeting would resume later in the day.
“My position is – better a reenacted budget in January or even in the entire 1st quarter of 2026 than an unchecked, corruption conducive and worse, graft-ridden GAA [General Appropriations Act],” Lacson said.
“Most of my colleagues, at least in the majority bloc share the same sentiment,” he added.
