Lacson says DPWH’s ‘leadership fund’ is a new form of pork barrel, worse than the old system

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 14, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has alleged that the “leadership fund” allotted to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the 2025 national budget is itself a form of pork barrel, saying it has simply been renamed or given a different form, and calling it worse than the pork barrel system it replaced.

Lacson said some lawmakers are able to insert projects into the budget while it is still at the National Expenditure Program (NEP) stage, before it is passed into law.

“Ngayon, nakaimbento na naman sila ng pork barrel. Mas masahol pa kasi ang pork barrel doon, yung sa Congress, eh ito, executive domain pa lang, nandun na, nakialam na yung mga congressmen because in-oorder na nila ang mga allocation. Anong term ha, alok-alok?” Lacson said.

(Now they’ve invented another form of pork barrel. It’s worse, because the old pork barrel was with Congress, but this one is still in the executive’s domain, and congressmen have already stepped in because they are ordering the allocations. What’s the term, alok-alok?)

The senator clarified that institutional amendments to the budget are not inherently improper, but said insertions that are self-serving, or that could open the door to abuse and corruption, should be avoided.

Lacson said the system that allows lawmakers to insert projects while the national budget is still in its preparation phase should be scrapped.

He did not specify how many lawmakers have made use of the practice or which specific projects were involved.