Overview: Allegations of Pork Barrel Reach the 2026 National Budget
A coalition of civil society organizations, led by the People’s Budget Coalition, has warned that the proposed 2026 national budget contains about P230 billion in pork barrel and patronage-based projects. The group argues that the House of Representatives’ Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee inserted billions into programs that enable political patronage rather than advancing transparent public services.
What the Coalition Claims Are at Issue
According to the coalition, specific line items in the budget for 2026 include programs from key departments such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (Aid to Individuals in Crisis), the Department of Labor and Employment (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers), and the Department of Health (Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients). The group also criticized opaque line items like confidential funds and unprogrammed appropriations, arguing they invite abuse and undermine budget integrity.
Costs to Public Trust
“We have lost trust in the integrity of the budget process. We estimate that there is still at least P230 billion in pork barrel and patronage-based projects,” the coalition said in a statement. They contend these allocations enable political patronage, risk constitutional issues, and divert funds away from rules-based social protection and essential public services.
Responses from the House and Lawmakers
House appropriations senior vice chair and Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia dismissed the claims, stating, “Actually, this is not congressional pork. These are the normal programs of our national government. MAIFIP, TUPAD, AICS. Normal programs po yan, continuing programs that benefit the poor.”
Garcia acknowledged that 2026 includes ongoing budgets for these programs and insisted that the measures were debated in hearings and plenary sessions, defended by sponsors, and approved. He also highlighted that unprogrammed appropriations are being adjusted in response to deliberations, calls from the public, and minority bloc concerns.
Context: How the Budget Process Works
After the National Expenditure Program is reviewed by the House, the General Appropriations Bill moves to the Senate for its own review. A bicameral conference committee then reconciles differences before sending a final version to the President for signature. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has noted that institutional and individual insertions during deliberations are part of the regular budget process, though watchdog groups argue these can erode transparency if left unchecked.
What Critics Want Next
The People’s Budget Coalition urges reallocating disputed funds to rules-based social protection, health, agriculture, and sustainable transportation. They argue that increased investment in public services, rather than opaque or patronage-influenced line items, better serves citizens and strengthens democratic governance. They also flagged gaps in the President’s stated priorities, particularly in active transport, bus and jeep improvements, and land distribution, urging clearer budget commitments to fulfill these goals.
Why This Debate Matters
The budget is a concrete instrument of public policy. Where funds are allocated and how they are controlled shapes access to health, jobs, education, and infrastructure. For many, the integrity of the budget process is a proxy for good governance. The current dispute highlights a broader question: how to balance executive and legislative priorities with transparent, accountable, and outcomes-focused spending.
Looking Ahead
As the 2026 budget moves through the legislative process, both sides will seek to influence allocations and oversight. Civil society advocates will continue to push for reforms that tighten controls on spending, promote transparency, and protect the right to public services without entangling them in political patronage. The public, meanwhile, awaits a budget that clearly aligns funding with declared national priorities and measurable social impact.
