By the Makabayan Coalition
The Makabayan bloc exposes the myths peddled by House leadership to hide P695.78 billion in pork barrel insertions — comprised of “hard pork” (infrastructure “allocables” where lawmakers nominate pet projects) and “soft pork” (programs like MAIP or TUPAD where legislators exercise patronage over who receives aid).
MYTH #1: “There is no pork barrel in the budget”
Patently false. Pork barrel exists through congressional “allocables” for infrastructure, party-list allocations, and presidential pork in Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) and Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF).
It is disingenuous to invoke the old PDAF system. While PDAF was struck down in 2013 for allowing lump-sum appropriations, today’s system of district allocations achieves the same result — district engineering offices receive equal amounts as if divided among lawmakers. This system enables lawmakers to nominate projects, influence biddings, choose contractors, and receive kickbacks. Kung walang ganitong sistema, hindi tayo aabot sa ganito kalaking katiwalian.
MYTH #2: “There is no pork in Unprogrammed Appropriations”
Another falsehood. UA contains a dangerous backdoor through Special Provision No. 10, which gives the DBM wide latitude to realign funds within UA. While House leadership removed explicit infrastructure items, Special Provision No. 10 allows Malacañang to funnel money into infrastructure anyway.
Of the P45 billion for “social programs,” P4.9 billion is under Capital Outlay which can fund infrastructure. With Special Provision No. 10, this can be augmented from other UA funds at presidential discretion.
Track record proves abuse. In 2023-2024 alone, P214.4 billion in DPWH projects (3,700 projects) were funded from UA, all requiring presidential approval. Bakit tayo magtitiwala when the same mechanisms remain?
UA is a Marcos dictatorship relic giving the President unchecked discretion. It’s not constitutional. The Constitution provides for supplemental appropriations bills — a transparent process through Congress, not a presidential blank check.
MYTH #3: “The budget prioritizes agriculture, education, and health”
While highlighting the P255 billion realignment from flood control, House leadership hides what else moved in the budget.
There remains P174 billion for infrastructure projects lodged in the district engineering offices which are local centers of corruption and are concrete examples of “allocable.” Based on our computation there are at least P230 million per congressman and P3.2 billion per senator of pork or “allocable.”
So called budget augmentation:
On Health (P90.75B):
– P60B for PhilHealth merely returns what was illegally transferred
– P5.7B for HFEP, a program plagued by corruption (super health centers controversy)
– P24.966B for MAIP—soft pork where legislators exercise patronage instead of ensuring free health services for all
On Agriculture (P90B):
– P32.6 billion for corruption-prone farm to market roads.
MYTH #4: “Unprogrammed Appropriations decreased in 2026”
Misleading. UA in 2025 NEP was P158 billion, which then ballooned to P243 billion during the bicam. Malacañang proposed a smaller UA in the NEP to avoid scrutiny, then allowed this to be inflated during the bicam when public attention wanes.
OUR CALL:
The 2026 budget perpetuates pork barrel corruption and betrays public trust.
We demand:
– Abolish the pork barrel system, especially congressional infrastructure allocations
– Abolish Unprogrammed Appropriations
– Implement free basic social services without political patronage
– Make the budget process truly transparent — not just livestreamed, but understandable to ordinary citizens
Tama na ang kurapsyon na nagmumula sa pambansang budget. The Filipino people deserve a budget that serves the nation’s needs, not the greed of the few. #
