House Assistant Majority Leader and TINGOG Party List Representative Jude Acidre sought to allay the concerns raised by private sector groups and teachers on the 2025 national budget, denying it revived the old pork barrel system. 

“If we're talking about the pork-barrel style that was in place before, I don't think that's the case. First, the line items are there. Second, the guidelines are crafted by executive agencies. The programs themselves will be implemented by the executive agencies. None of these projects, none of these items, have been delegated… to the legislative. So all are within the purview of the executive and the executive agencies. And I think in that case, I don't think it's fair to say that these are discretionary and they represent a return to the old pork barrel system,” he said. 

Some groups have expressed worries over the “growing discretionary funds” in the national budget, and the “diversion” of vital resources from priority sectors. 

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“We remain concerned about the growing discretionary funds with its inherent nature - being less transparent, accountable, and prone to inefficiencies, duplication and patronage - diverting vital resources from priority sectors such as education and health, which are central to inclusive growth and long-term resilience,” the Philippine Business for Education, founded by the country’s top business leaders, said in a statement. 

“Malaking porsyento pa rin ‘yung in-insert o isinuksok doon sa budget for 2025. Kaya talagang itong budget na ito ay… punong-puno ng pork. Talagang ‘yung porsyento ng social services talagang maliit. Halimbawa sa 2024, 2025, kung iko-compare natin ‘yan, parang parehas lang, sa 2%. ‘Yung pang-economic naman, mga 1.9%. Kaya talagang problematic. Ang laki pa rin ng debt services, 0.88%. Kaya talagang problematic itong pondo na ito,” House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro also said on Thursday.

 Acidre asserted that education, healthcare and social services remained a priority in the 2025 national budget despite the removal of government subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and the cuts in the proposed budget for computerization in the Department of Education and the conditional cash transfer program “4Ps” under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

 “Kung titignan n’yo naman ‘yung mga items na in-approve, doon naman talaga papunta. Even, for example, there are issues with regards to ‘yung subsidy ng PhilHealth. We've seen unprecedented level of investment in terms of healthcare infrastructure. That's basically also the same thing. AKAP is also helpful as a social amelioration program directed against the near poor,” he explained. 

“Inayos natin ‘yung fiscal efficiency. ‘Yung paglalaan ng budget na napakarami na hindi nila magamit. For example, sa DepEd, alam naman natin ang nangyari. Napakalaki ng hininging pondo in previous years with regards to computerization, but… below naman targets ang implementation, ang nagawa at na-deliver. Nandyan din ‘yung tanong tungkol sa school buildings. Ang laki ng pondo naibigay, pero hindi naman na-implement nang maayos,” Acidre added.

 “For the last couple of years, we've always funded the 4Ps, but much is to be desired with regard to full implementation. (09:47) If we are to say  that there is impact in the 4Ps program, mas mahalaga din na makita natin na hindi palaki nang palaki ang binibigyan natin ng conditional cash transfer. Kasi ‘yun nga ‘yung punto ng programa na habang tumatagal ay mas kaunting Pilipino ang mangangailangan ng 4Ps. At dito naman natin pinapasok ang AKAP kasi ito naman ‘yung sasalo bilang kanilang paglipat doon sa near-poor sector,” he noted. 

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As the DSWD, the Department of Labor and Employment and the National Economic and Development Authority seek to craft new and “enhanced” guidelines for the implementation of the controversial Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Acidre said it is only fair to ensure in the policy that the program be isolated from politics. He also called for clear guidelines on the definition of “near-poor” individuals, who may qualify as AKAP beneficiaries.

 “There were some proposals na dapat walang pulitiko. I think it's a fair consideration given na mag-eleksyon. We don't want the aims of the program to be confused with campaigning,” Acidre said.

 “The second is, siguro we need to focus talaga on… a clear guideline on defining the demographic for near poor para hindi siya nag-o-overlap doon sa ibang programa ng gobyerno. Pangatlo, we need to also come up with a study on the economic impact,” he added.

 On the challenge to reveal the names of AKAP beneficiaries, Acidre said it is available with the DSWD. The agency said AKAP provided P5,000 in cash assistance to nearly 5 million near-poor Filipinos in 2024, achieving a 99.31% utilization rate of its P26.7 billion budget.

 PBEd urged the Marcos Jr. administration and Congress to “establish robust monitoring and oversight mechanisms to ensure taxpayers' money is used efficiently and effectively” to achieve the country's priorities.

 “While mending the budget is vital, it must be accompanied by clear, long-term strategies that prioritize the needs of our people and benefit the entire nation,” the group said.