Senator Lacson Exposes Potential ‘Double Appropriation’ in Taguig Slope Project

A new controversy erupts in the Senate as Panfilo Lacson flags what he calls a “double appropriation” for a single infrastructure project in Taguig, raising questions about fiscal accountability and government spending.

In a fiery session on Thursday, Senator Panfilo Lacson raised the alarm over what he described as a “double appropriation” for a slope protection project in Taguig City. The veteran lawmaker, known for his meticulous scrutiny of the national budget, pointed to two separate funding allocations—one from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and another from a local government unit—that appear to cover the same infrastructure initiative.

“We are seeing a pattern where the same project is being funded twice, from two different sources, without proper coordination or oversight,” Lacson said during a Senate hearing on the proposed 2027 national budget. “This is not just a waste of taxpayer money—it is a potential violation of procurement and budgeting laws.”

The Project in Question

The disputed project involves a slope protection structure in Barangay Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, an area prone to erosion and landslides during the rainy season. According to documents reviewed by Lacson’s office, the DPWH had already allocated PHP 45 million for the project in the 2025 national budget. However, a separate allocation of PHP 30 million was also found in the proposed 2026 budget of the Taguig City government, under the same project title and location.

“When we cross-referenced the project codes and descriptions, they matched almost perfectly,” Lacson explained. “This raises a serious red flag. Are we paying for the same slope protection wall twice?”

Political Rivalry Adds Fuel to the Fire

The controversy has taken on a political dimension, as Taguig City is currently under the leadership of Mayor Lani Cayetano, wife of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano—a long-time political rival of Lacson. The two senators have clashed repeatedly over budget allocations and local governance issues, and this latest development has reignited tensions.

Senator Cayetano, who was present during the hearing, dismissed Lacson’s allegations as “baseless and politically motivated.” He argued that the two appropriations were for different phases of the project—one for design and engineering, the other for actual construction.

“The DPWH funding was for preliminary studies and soil testing. The city’s allocation is for the physical construction of the slope protection. These are not duplications; they are complementary,” Cayetano countered.

However, Lacson remained unconvinced, noting that the project description in both budgets explicitly stated “construction of slope protection structure,” with no mention of separate phases.

Broader Implications for Fiscal Discipline

This is not the first time Lacson has flagged questionable budget items. In previous years, he exposed “pork barrel” allocations and ghost projects that led to significant reforms in the national budgeting process. The current controversy, however, highlights a persistent weakness in the system: the lack of a centralized database to track all government-funded projects.

“We have multiple agencies and local governments funding infrastructure, but there is no single repository where we can check if a project has already been funded elsewhere,” said Dr. Maria Santos, a public finance expert at the University of the Philippines. “This creates opportunities for double dipping, whether intentional or not.”

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has yet to comment on the specific case, but sources indicate that an internal review is underway.

What Happens Next?

The Senate Committee on Finance, which Lacson chairs, is expected to conduct a full investigation into the matter. If the double appropriation is confirmed, the Taguig City government may be required to return the PHP 30 million to the national treasury, or the DPWH allocation could be realigned to other priority projects.

For now, the ball is in the court of the Commission on Audit (COA), which has been asked to conduct a special audit of the project. “We need a definitive ruling on whether this is a case of double funding or a legitimate phased approach,” Lacson said. “The Filipino people deserve transparency and accountability in every peso spent.”

Conclusion

As the budget deliberations continue, the Taguig slope project serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities and risks of decentralized funding. Whether this turns out to be a genuine error, a case of political maneuvering, or a systemic flaw in budget monitoring, one thing is clear: the spotlight is now on how the government ensures that every infrastructure peso is spent once—and spent wisely.

The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, potentially reshaping the way national and local governments coordinate on infrastructure funding. For now, all eyes are on the COA’s findings, which are expected within the next 30 days.