House representatives from Iloilo City and the province got P3 billion to P4.3 billion in “allocable” fund from 2023 to 2025.

The so-called allocable is the discretionary fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) set for each congressional district.

Based on data from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), former representative of Iloilo 5th District Raul Tupas has the biggest “allocable” that reached over P4.3 billion.

Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda and 3^rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor come next with over P4 billion each.

Iloilo 4^th District Rep. Ferjenel Biron, 1^st District Rep. Janette Garin, and Michael Gorriceta, former congressman, have over P3 billion in “allocables.”

Aside from the so-called allocable, each district also gets non-allocable funds for national projects such as roads and bridges.

In 2025, the 3^rd District gets the most non-allocable fund that reached P3.4 billion.

The First, Fourth and Fifth Districts of Iloilo and the Lone District of Iloilo City got over P1 billion each. The Second District got over P500 million in non-allocable fund.

According to PCIJ, the “allocables” are the new pork barrel fund that was already declared by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

Through this sytem, the possibility of corruption is huge, according to a political analyst.

“Yan yung medyo problematic diyan because discretionary yung pondo. Ibig sabihin, pwede nilang gamitin sa gusto nilang paraan at sa gusto nilang dahilan. And pag nilalagyan natin ng discretion yung mga pondo, usually it will result to corruption,” Professor Ramon Beleno III, political analyst, said.

The allocable fund has been condemned by “Kahublagan Kontra Korapsyon,” an anti-corruption group, citing the deception of the public.

“The same dog, with a new collar. The same cook with different menu. Siguro it’s time sa ating voters na parusahan ang mga ito. We call on Congress, mahiya naman kayo. Makonsensya naman kayo… kung meron pa kayong konsensya,” said Msgr. Meliton Oso, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas has tried to reach for statements from Iloilo solons involved.

DPWH 6 has not replied to the message sent by the news team.

In 2026, P400 billion in allocable is reportedly available. However, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon assures that this will be removed by 2027.

“Para sa atin, palitan talaga yung sistema. Tanggalin ang discretionary fund. At gawin talagang programa itong mga priority projects ng ating bansa na hindi dadaan sa kongresista,” Beleno added.