MANILA, Philippines – “Congressmen become contractors, contractors become congressmen.”
This scathing warning from Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson hits at the heart of what he describes as a deeply entrenched conflict of interest in Congress—where lawmakers with ties to construction firms are allegedly exploiting public infrastructure budgets for personal gain.
Lacson’s criticism comes as the Philippines grapples with a crippling ₱23 trillion national debt, raising urgent questions about how public funds are being used—and who truly benefits.
He warns that flood control projects, road repairs, and other major infrastructure programs have become political bargaining chips, with billions funneled into projects that serve profit over people.
“This is not governance. This is profiteering in disguise,” Lacson said, urging reforms to end the cycle of self-dealing that continues to drain the country’s finances while leaving communities vulnerable and underserved.
Calls for transparency, ethics, and a clean break between public office and private interest are growing louder—amid fears that the cost of silence will be paid in more debt, broken infrastructure, and public trust lost for good.