Lawmakers flag P6.7 trillion 2026 budget over 'giniling pork'

A number of lawmakers flagged the proposed P6.793 trillion budget for 2026 for being marred with “grilled pork” or discretionary funds in bits and pieces.

Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and one of the members of the Bicameral Conference Committee, said that “grilled pork” is clear with presence of the P143.8 billion total budget increase allegedly alloted for the following aid programs:

• Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP)
• Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)
• Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Displaced Workers (TUPAD)
• Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolks and Families (PAFF)
• Farm to Market Roads (FMR) and
• Local Government Support Fund (LGSF)

“Hindi ako pumirma sa giniling budget. [May] pork pa rin, giniling lang para 'di halata,” Senator Imee Marcos said.

“Mali para sa akin na ilipat ang tinanggal na flood control funds patungo sa mga soft pork gaya ng MAIFIP, AICS, TUPAD, PAFF, FMR, at LGSF - mga programang matagal nang inuugnay sa political incentives,” she added.

Likewise, Senator Marcos said she is opposed to the P124.58 billion reduction for the funds for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) at Metro Manila Subway.

Makabayan bloc lawmakers Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers party-list, Sarah Elago of Gabriela party-list and Renee Co of Kabataan party-list agreed.

“There is no substantial allocation for genuine agrarian reform or national industrialization. While funding for education, healthcare, housing, and other social services remains woefully inadequate, billions are poured into pork barrel funds, fascist programs, debt servicing, and projects that serve foreign interests,” they said.

“The 2026 budget is riddled with multiple forms of pork barrel: presidential pork, vice-presidential pork, allocables, hard pork, soft pork, generals' pork, and the newest variant — LGU pork."

The Makabayan bloc lawmakers noted that the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) was increased by P41.87 billion or from P16 billion in the National Expenditure Program to P57.87 billion in the Bicam-approved budget.

The financial assistance to LGUs, on the other hand, ballooned from P5 billion to P37.5 billion. Likewise, they cited that the Growth Equity Fund jumped from P1 billion to P11.3 billion — both lump-sum funds.

They also flagged the new lump-sum fund, the Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program for LGUs, which was allocated a P15.33 billion funding.

“This is a new form of presidential pork barrel that can be used for roads, bridges, multi-purpose buildings, and ayuda in areas affected by calamities, epidemics, or armed conflict over the past two years. Regardless of the name, these programs constitute the essence of the pork barrel system — rebranded but fundamentally unchanged,” they said.

“They prioritize short-term, fragmented assistance over accessible and adequate healthcare, education, decent work, and livelihood. Worse, the President now has his own exclusive soft pork: the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk. Instead of genuine agrarian reform, the junking of the Rice Liberalization Law, and a stop to agricultural imports, farmers and fisherfolk are offered measly ayuda. The Filipino people deserve better,” they added.

But for Bicol Saro party-list Brian Yamsuan, one of the members of the Bicameral Conference Committee, the substantial increases approved by the Bicam in the funds for the education sector which amounted to a whopping P1.38 trillion and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) which totaled almost P130 billion is proof that the 2026 budget made the right investment.

Budget allocation increase

Under the Bicam-approved budget, the Department of Education (DepEd) and its attached agencies would get P961.3 billion, up by P86.7 billion from the amount proposed under Malacañang’s National Expenditure Program (NEP).

State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) will also receive P138 billion, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with P47 billion, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with, P26 billion.

Philhealth’s allocation increased from the original NEP level of P53.2 billion to P129.7 billion after the House of Representatives added P60 billion, and another P16.52 billion was included from the savings generated by the modifications  in  the budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The recomputation of the DPWH budget stemmed from the adjusted Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD) for 10,000 projects, resulting in P20.7 billion savings.

After the P16.5 billion was given to  PhilHealth, the remaining P4.25 billion went to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (NDRRMF) to provide additional aid to calamity victims.

"The Bicam put in place safeguards in the implementation of DPWH infrastructure projects by requiring that these have clear geographic coordinates and station numbers, as well as opening a transparency portal to allow the public to scrutinize these projects," Yamsuan said.

Moreover, the budget for the operation of Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals increased from the NEP level of P26.4  billion to P29.9 billion; for DOH regional hospitals from P95.2 billion to P101.7 billion; and the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), from P14.5 billion to P26.2 billion. — BAP, GMA Integrated News