The Senate’s approval on second reading of a P6.793-trillion spending plan for 2026 should usher in a moment of resolve. Now, more than ever, the government must prove it can wield enormous resources with competence and integrity.

What most Filipinos question these days is the ability of the Marcos Junior administration to take on a monumental national budget, when in the last three years, all it has proven is the opposite: that it is utterly inept at making our taxes work for our people.

The nightmare of ghost flood-mitigation projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) remains hanging over our heads. It’s like a gaping wound that exposes how billions can vanish into thin air while communities drown.

These scandals that have dragged many political characters close to the administration to infamy are not just stories for sharing on social media. They’re evidence of criminal acts in government, of a system incapable of tracking, monitoring, or safeguarding funds meant for public infrastructure and basic services. Evidence that every peso we surrender to the state is at risk of spillovers, kickbacks, or outright theft.

Ever so cautiously, Firing Line will commend the Senate for making appropriate adjustments in preparing the spending bill for 2026. Let me cite how it slashed DPWH’s budget by P55.91 billion, cut P68.5 billion from bloated unprogrammed appropriations, and increased funding where it actually matters — classrooms, universities, and internal security.

Senator Ping Lacson deserves credit for pushing the Chamber to remove “allocables” — what he has termed as the “new pork barrel” or those shadowy, pre-identified funds waiting for favored contractors and rigged bids.

The resistance he faced only proves how entrenched this behavior remains among some members of the august body. Pardon me – not so august, since a number of them are actually implicated in the worst government project thefts in history.

More than budget cuts on paper, perhaps the real measure of reform in planning the budget is in ensuring that massive allocations are not allowed to sit idly in department coffers. Some offices of government are praised wrongfully for their “savings,” which are actually project funds that are unspent — ergo, no output.

In other cases, such departments like the DPWH are bloated with funding, but they could only pretend to execute thousands of projects, even if, in actuality, there are too few qualified contractors to faithfully follow the design and finish the job.

We’ve already seen what happens when the big players and triple-A contractors snare the projects but resort to subcontracting down the ladder. Former Public Works chief Babes Singson himself warned how substandard builders end up holding the bag, and the public pays the price in crumbling work and wasted funds.

Congress must protect public money — not just from corruption, but from incompetence. The point is not to brag about a big number when drafting the budget to trillions. The point is to ensure a budget that is realistic, executable, and honest, grounded in the hard truth that government exists to serve the Filipino, not to enrich those who treat taxpayers as collateral damage.

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The media event spotlighted the Health Tax Heroes and Hazards—a gallery that not only praised candidates with strong pro-health records but also exposed those who have prioritized industry profits over the well-being of the Filipino people.

The Health Tax Heroes include: Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Ping Lacson, and Senator Manny Pacquiao, as well as Akbayan and ANAKalusugan party-lists. They have consistently supported taxing harmful products like cigarettes, vape, and alcohol, helping fund vital healthcare programs. ML Partylist and Aksyon Dapat were cited for supporting pro-health platforms. 

On the flip side, the Health Tax Hazards, those who failed to stand with public health and instead sided with industry interests, include Senators Imee Marcos and Bong Revilla.

“We need candidates for the 2025 elections to be Health Tax Heroes and stand with us in prioritizing the health and well-being of our people,” AJ Montesa, economist of Action for Economic Reforms – Sin Tax Coalition said. 

“For over a decade, the laws taxing tobacco, vape, and alcohol products have helped fund critical healthcare programs. We have to stay the course so that these taxes keep impacting consumption, given the ongoing epidemic affecting young people,” Montesa urged.

The doctors revealed their Health Manifesto, demanding candidates adopt the policy: “Tax Yosi, Vape, at Alak Now.” The manifesto calls for lawmakers to strengthen and expand sin tax laws, and insists that voters scrutinize the voting records of candidates—especially in light of the controversial Sin Tax Sabotage bill recently passed in the House of Representatives.

“We are on the front lines, witnessing the devastating effects of tobacco, alcohol, and vaping on our communities, especially the youth,” Dr. Hector Santos, president of the Philippine Medical Association.

“More than 115,000 Filipinos die yearly because of these harmful products. Taxing these substances is a life-saving measure, more than an economic tool. It is our responsibility to protect the next generation from preventable diseases and early deaths caused by these harmful products,” Dr. Santos said.

Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, underscored the political influence of the tobacco, alcohol, and vaping industries. “For years, some lawmakers have prioritized corporate profits over Filipino lives. This election, we are making sure voters know exactly who has betrayed public health,” she said.

The Health Taxes campaign is supported by a coalition of medical societies and advocates, including the Sin Tax Coalition, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine College of Chest Physicians, and the Hepatology Society of the Philippines.

The coalition clarified that its statements reflect its commitment to public health advocacy, but should not be construed as endorsements or political opposition. It said these views are solely those of the coalition.

Coalition building is an art. As such, it requires personalities, organizations and groups to be willing to rise above their differences and to actively cooperate with each other in the spirit of mutual understanding, fortitude, and litheness. When Coalition members share accountability, goals, decisions, and governance; and dynamically and enthusiastically work toward a common goal, the coalition has the potential for great success.

LENI – PING – TRILLANES – ISKO and PACQUIAO? We have to balance capability with winnability. Coming up with the best alternative and/or best candidate against the current administration’s bets must be our priority. However, we could not just think of the numbers but also the capabilities of the potential candidates to serve our people and our country. While 1SAMBAYAN is a broad coalition, it has as its core the unity and inclusivity of all opposition forces through which the Preeminent Choice for the Filipino Electorate could be determined.

The decision of VP Leni to exert all effort to unite and come up with a single candidate is very welcomed; and a selfless move that 1SAMBAYAN sees as a truly productive and positive step on the right direction. On the other hand, the formula suggested by Sen. Ping which is solely based on surveys appears to fall short of a principled approach. Nonetheless, the openness to discuss unity talks is well taken. I do hope that we can still continue and open other options.

Similarly, the clamor for Presidential Aspirants to decide early (so that coalition building is done promptly as well) as proposed by Sen. Trillanes is a positive sign. Although we all know that running for the presidency is a tough personal decision and should be left to the individual. 1SAMBAYAN continues to support the vision of Sen. Trillanes for a unified opposition ticket towards a graft-free society led by principled individuals.

Recent unity talks with Sen. Pacquiao is still in the air. Although this may seem revolting to some, I believe that this should be seen as a move to unify with a potential ally. In any unity talks, I think it is clear that Coalition Building is the first top of mind. The selection of candidates for any position is only secondary. The first step is really to unite and align with various groups towards a common goal. In that respect, I think we can move forward with Sen. Pacquiao and see if an alliance is possible before we proceed with talks of any position. As true leaders, we must put the country first and personal interests second.

Finally but not least, the talks of alliance with Mayor Isko is now stronger, especially now that even President Duterte has made him the flavor of the month and has even weaponized the DILG in issuing wrong letters of explanation.

Yet some people are singing in tune with the President’s tirade against Mayor Isko for having daring pictures during his younger years, but we have to remember that those pictures were done as a young actor and not as a public servant. It was done with the best intentions and was part of the learning process of a young individual which he used for the better and made himself now a better person and public servant. We see Mayor Isko riding above adversity as a young individual and using his experiences to help improve the City of Manila and his constituents.

To reiterate at the start of this article we welcome all efforts of uniting the democratic forces and that numbers should not be the only basis for unity. 1SAMBAYAN is open to discuss unity talks with all the above-mentioned individuals and to other similarly minded individuals and or groups in wanting a unified opposition and lift us up from this failed Duterte Presidency.

1SAMBAYAN seeks a broad coalition and continues its efforts in bringing candidates in the democratic forces in “one big umbrella” with the understanding that in unity we all win. I am confident that we can reach a unity of purpose and the goal of a single unified candidate for president. It is more achievable now more than it was a year ago, after all it is clear that in all our discussions with the above-mentioned presidential aspirants that all have a greater love for our country and our people over and above any ambition or desire for office.