PALACE WELCOMES ESCUDERO’S ‘NEGATIVE LIST’ TO AVOID WASTEFUL INFRA SPENDING

MALACAÑANG on Wednesday expressed support for Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s proposal to create a “negative list” of infrastructure projects that should not receive funding under the 2026 national budget.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration welcomes this recommendation, especially as it aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to conduct a thorough review of the budget in light of questionable insertions.

“Ang kanyang suhestiyon po ay welcome naman po,” Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

“At katulad ng sinabi natin kanina sa announcement ng Pangulo, inutusan po ang DBM (Department of Budget and Management) at ang DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) na busisiin ang sinasabing mukhang nagkaroon na naman ng mga insertion. So, kailangan po talaga itong maaral at ma-evaluate kung tama po talaga ang mga ito,” Castro said.

Escudero said that coming up with a list is a “proactive” step to ensure that funds will not be used in non-essential programs such as “low-value but overpriced” road devices like reflective studs, slope protection nets and paints, and “vanity projects” like waiting sheds, swimming pools, signage, among others.

President Marcos has said the 2026 proposed national budget still contains insertions that must be “cleaned out properly.”

The President has since ordered the creation of an independent commission that would review not only flood control projects but also all projects within the DPWH to ensure transparency and accountability.

Asked about Escudero’s call for a moratorium on new flood control projects for 2026, having billions of unused funds under the 2025 budget, Castro said DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has already started addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, Castro dismissed concerns about President Marcos’ possible liability for the anomalous flood control projects, noting that many of the questioned projects did not occur during the Marcos administration.

Castro stressed that President Marcos is the first sitting president to initiate an extensive investigation into long-standing irregularities in infrastructure spending.

“Tandaan po natin mismo ang Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang nagpapaimbestiga dahil nalaman po niya kung ano ang nangyayari at siya po ang bumisita mismo. Wala pa pong pangulo sa history na gumawa ng ganitong malawakang pag-iimbestiga sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects,” Castro said.

“Kahit na tamaan ang kanyang administrasyon, matapang ang Pangulong Marcos Jr. na ito ay paimbestigahan,” Castro added.

Castro pointed out that the ongoing investigation has brought to light anomalies dating back as early as 2016.

These include projects involving controversial contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Sarah Discaya; the rock netting projects from 2018 cited by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong; and the “ghost” flood control projects visited by President Marcos in Calumpit, Bulacan that were tagged as completed between 2022 and 2023.

“Dahil sa malawakang pag-iimbestiga na ito, marami po talaga tayong malalaman at ‘yan po ang gusto ng Pangulo para ipaalam sa bayan ano ba ang nangyayari, ano ang sitwasyon, at kailangan mapanagot ang dapat managot,” Castro said.