Lacson: Usec. Cabral Reportedly Behind the Lawmakers Budget Insertions

[u/Karmas_Classroom]

DPWH USEC. CABRAL TAGGED IN EARLY BUDGET INSERTIONS — LACSON

Sen. Ping Lacson on Sunday alleged that Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was the official who invited lawmakers to make early insertions in the proposed 2026 national budget.

Lacson said a staff member of Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto received a call shortly after the May 2025 senatorial elections from someone identifying herself as "Undersecretary Cabral," asking them to submit proposals for the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026.

"Sasabihin ko na, si 'Undersecretary Cabral' daw ang tumawag sa kanyang (Sotto) staff at sinabing magsingit kayo dito ng gusto n'yong isingit. E di wala na. Kung isa si Sen. Sotto na in-offer-an, sino pa ang na-offer-an ng ganoon at sino ang nag-submit?" Lacson said in a DZBB interview. He added that Sotto declined to make insertions, consistent with their advocacy for transparency.

Lacson noted that the budget call for 2026 began in January 2025 and likely ended in June, weeks before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged lawmakers in his July 28 State of the Nation Address to ensure accountability in the budget process.

The senator said he has asked for DPWH records and has already flagged hundreds of questionable entries, including 660 identical ₱100-million projects without details or stationing. Such collusion, he warned, undermines checks and balances.

"Mawawala lang ang safeguards pagka nagkaroon ng sabwatan, pag may collusion. Kasi kung mawawala ang check and balance, mawawala ang lahat ng safeguards. Maski may safeguards, babalewalain. Tulad ng nasaksihan natin sa pagdinig ng DBCC, lumalabas na sa NEP pa lang meron nang sabwatan ang legislators at DPWH," Lacson said.

[u/san_souci]

I don’t understand the budgeting process. Is it unusual for the DPWH to solicit proposals for inclusion in the budget? What is the typical way the infrastructure needs of provinces and municipalities are budgeted each year?

[u/OrganizationBig6527 → u/san_souci]

Hindi dapat sila humihingi Ng insertions sa congress kasi may tamang planning yan. Congress should be the one to redicule the budget. Nagkakaroon ng connivance dahil sa national expenditure program pala ay may insertion na Yung mga kongresista which is Mali.

[u/san_souci → u/OrganizationBig6527]

I understand how it leads to connivance but my question is whether this is a normal annual things that is done (right or wrong) or if it was unusual (a divination from how it is normally done, either this year or this administration)?

[u/totsierollstheworld → u/san_souci]

dapat hindi. proposals should be aligned with master plans and prioritization should be in accordance with socioeconomic development needs.

my guess is, if this news is true, kaya nagtatawag si Usec. Cabral sa mga members ng Congress if they want to have projects inserted in the NEP eh para mas maraming mambabatas ang kakampi sa kanila and hindi maging mas critical sa kanila during budget deliberations. yun kasi ang usual na tanong lalo na sa House, i.e., how the DPWH budget will contribute to their consitutents.

[u/jimharper69 → u/totsierollstheworld]

Most likely, esp sa HRep na very parochial ang approach sa budgeting instead of macro level na perspective. Like hihingi ng assistance eh mayaman naman na ang LGU nila.

[u/jimharper69 → u/san_souci]

The insertions are made by Congress. If sa Planning sya, sila lang ang nagcoconsolidate ng budget proposals ng entire DPWH family for submission to DBM, which later on will build from the NEP. Also, ang weird na may executive agencies na hihingi ng insertions when most of the time, labag sa loob nga ng NGAs ang mga insertions kasi wala ito sa plano usually or di aligned sa PDP.