Suansing denies budget approval 'payoffs' to House members

House Appropriations Committee chairperson and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing on Monday denied allegations by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste that her panel offered incentives to House members during deliberations on the proposed P6.7-trillion national budget, saying the funding measure's approval is a collective—not coercive—decision.

Suansing was responding to Leviste’s earlier statement accusing a supposed member of the former's staff, identified as Atty. Jolina, of offering him P150 million in so-called “allocables,” or allowable budget items for projects benefiting his district, under the proposed P6.7-trillion 2026 national budget.

“Hindi po ini-impluwensyahan ng House leadership ang sinumang indibidwal na miyembro ng Kamara kung paano bumoto,” Suansing said in a statement.

(The House leadership does not influence individual members of the House on how to vote.)

“The House of Representatives is a collegial body. We respect each member’s freedom to vote and decide based on the needs of their constituents and their conscience,” she added.

Suansing said the 20th Congress has initiated several reforms to make the budget process more transparent and to strengthen lawmakers’ accountability, including the creation of the Budget Amendment and Review Subcommittee (BARSc).

She said BARSc evaluates proposed budget amendments from various agencies, including those endorsed by civil society organizations, for possible inclusion in the proposed P6.7-trillion national budget for 2026.

“Through these initiatives, the national budget was scrutinized more thoroughly. The BARSc spent an additional 20 hours reviewing the proposed General Appropriations Bill before it was submitted for plenary consideration,” Suansing said.—MCG, GMA Integrated News