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Legislative bills

House Version of P6.7-Trillion Budget Bill Remains Criticized Over "Pork" Projects

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The House of Representatives' version of the P6.7-trillion budget bill has passed its third and final reading, but lawmakers who voted against it, including Reps. Perci Cendana, Chel Diokno, and Dadah Ismula, among others, criticized the continued use of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) and other "pork" projects. These lawmakers acknowledged efforts by the House committee on appropriations to make the budget more transparent but expressed concern over the retention of several problematic provisions. They called for the abolition of UA, citing its potential for corruption and misuse, and questioned the allocation of funds for various programs and projects.

Key Takeaways:

  • The House version of the P6.7-trillion budget bill passed its third and final reading despite criticism from lawmakers who voted against it.
  • Lawmakers who opposed the bill, including Reps. Perci Cendana, Chel Diokno, and Dadah Ismula, expressed concern over the continued use of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) and other "pork" projects.
  • The use of UA has been criticized for its potential for corruption and misuse, and lawmakers called for its abolition.
  • The budget bill retains several problematic provisions, including the practice of convening the small committee, which is notoriously opaque.
  • Lawmakers questioned the allocation of funds for various programs and projects, including the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education.
  • The 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) still falls short of the needs for the vulnerable and the marginalized.
  • Lawmakers criticized the continued existence of pork and patronage projects in the GAB, including the allocation of funds for the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and the Department of Labor and Employment's TUPAD program.
  • Rep. Antonio Tinio specifically criticized the continued use of "allocables," or the guaranteed share of each legislator in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)'s P881.3-billion budget.

Statistics:

  • The P6.7-trillion budget bill passed by the House of Representatives.
  • The total amount allocated for unprogrammed appropriations (UA) is P249 billion.
  • The budget for the education sector is P1.28 trillion next year, with students expected to receive only around P100 a day.
  • The average allocation for the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines is P2,522 per police officer and P4,629 per soldier per day, respectively.
  • The Department of Social Welfare and Development's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program received an additional P32.06 billion.
  • The Department of Labor and Employment's TUPAD program received an additional P14.82 billion.
  • The Department of Health's Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program received an additional P26.73 billion.
  • The guaranteed share of each legislator in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)'s P881.3-billion budget amounts to P230 million per congressman and P3.2 billion per senator.

Sources:

  • Republic of the Philippines. House of Representatives. (2022). House Bill No. 4058 -- 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
  • People's Budget Coalition. (2022). Analysis of the 2026 GAB.
  • De Lima, L. (2022, October 31). Budget process observers from civil society 'very worried'. Retrieved from
  • Elago, S. (2022, October 31). 'Pork' in House version of 2026 budget. Retrieved from
  • Lagman, K. (2022, October 31). 1 trillion of 2026 budget to go to interest payments. Retrieved from

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