MANILA — Former Commission on Audit (COA) chairperson and now senatorial bet Heidi Mendoza has added her voice to those who say the 2025 national budget is problematic. 

Mendoza faced ABS-CBN’s Harapan 2025 on Tuesday.

“Naniniwala ako na ito na yung pinaka-ano…pinaka-sinalaula na budget sa buong karanasan ko. And that means more than almost 30 years . Bakit? Dahil may mga practice na sabihin nating, practice na hindi na-a-align, hindi nakalinya sa tinatawag nating nakagawian o controlled practices nung nakalipas,” she said.

“Eh ngayon nakita natin na pati unprogrammed funds lumalaki. Pataas nang pataas. At kumbaga, napakalaki rin ng diperensiya nung inihain na budget ng Pangulo doon sa inaprubahan diba? Walang pumalag,” Mendoza added.

The 2025 budget amounts to P6.326 trillion.

Mendoza also claimed that nowadays, corruption happens even during planning and allocation of resources unlike before when it supposedly happened during budget execution.

Mendoza underscored its impact on ordinary Filipinos.

“Ito pong budget ay pinagsama-samang ambag ng bawat mamamayan. At huwag nating sabihing di ka nagbabayad ng income tax wala kang ambag . May ambag ka through indirect taxes,” she said.

“Yung halimbawa sinasabi ngayon na AKAP. Kung yan ay ang nakatakdang ibibigay kunyari ay limang libo pero ang pipirmahan daw walang amount na nakalagay. Eh ang ibibigay lang sayo tatlong libo. Dalawang libo ang kulang. So ang ibig sabihin yung dalawang libong hindi nabigay sayo, dalawang libong maaari mong pambili ng bigas, dalawang libong maaari mong pamasahe papunta sa trabaho, dalawang libong maaaring pambili ng gamot,” she explained.

AKAP or the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) is a program that provides cash assistance to minimum wage earners affected by inflation.

According to Mendoza, the P26 billion AKAP can be considered as pork barrel. The term pork barrel has been associated with lump sump and discretionary funds.

“Wala nang bolahan. Ang AKAP ay pork barrel. Bakit? Ito ay nakatali sa diskresyon ng Speaker, ito ay nakatali sa political favor na hinihingi ng mga mambabatas at walang masyadong kondisyon. In other words ano lang ‘to, para sila ay iboto,” she remarked.

The House of Representatives and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the agency that handles AKAP, have denied that it is pork.

WPS, DIVORCE, EDUCATION

Mendoza also reacted to pressing issues in the country such as the government’s response to the ongoing tension in the West Philippine Sea.

She said the Marcos administration is correct with its foreign policy, but wants it to file another case at the arbitral tribunal in light of China’s aggressions.

As for divorce, Mendoza said she is not in favor.

“Dahil ako po ay isang Katoliko at naniniwala ako sa sanctity ng marriage. Subalit meron po akong mga ilang tinitignan like halimbawa po yung mga provision for dissolution of marriage on dead marriages. Kasi alam naman natin na may mga marriage na talagang lubhang nakakasakit,” she explained.

Mendoza is also pushing for proper funding for education and the welfare of teachers.