Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Budget watchdog Social Watch Philippines (SWP) has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto several &quot;highly questionable items&quot; from the ratified 2026 national budget bill. SWP said the questionable items amounted to ₱319.04 billion. The group also said the bicam members’ last-minute insertions and lump-sum appropriations as a return to the old pork barrel system—despite public outrage over corruption and wasteful spending.“The 2026 budget is not people-centered, despite what the Bicam Committee claims. It is extremely disappointing how Congress ignores the public’s anger over unprecedented levels of corruption and the alarming use of public funds to promote patronage politics,&quot; said Dr. Ma. Victoria Raquiza, Co-Convenor of Social Watch Philippines. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/3/dpwh-budget-for-2026-has-no-funding-for-new-flood-control-projects-1315">DPWH: Budget for 2026 has no funding for new flood-control projects</a></div>&quot;What’s worse, despite the Bicam livestreaming, numerous non-transparent side meetings and huddles took place, and major last-minute adjustments were undertaken outside of the public&#x27;s scrutiny, thereby undermining the vaunted transparency and accountability of the Bicam process. Such actions deepen the public trust deficit in government and intensify public cynicism toward the government’s commitment to uphold every Filipino’s right to a just and fair budget.” SWP said the questionable programs that should be vetoed are as follows:·       ₱81.94 billion increase in the Basic Infrastructure Program (BIP) and the Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) program under the Convergence and Special Support Program (CSSP) (Department of Public Works and Highways). The SWP said these overlap with various projects under existing DPWH programs.·       ₱8.9 billion Farm-to-Market Roads (Department of Agriculture), described by the group as a last-minute adjustment requested during the bicam, which did not go through public scrutiny during the House and Senate hearings.·       ₱10 billion Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (DA). &quot;This duplicates funding, as financial subsidies or assistance worth ₱8.55 billion are already spread across existing DA programs and projects,&quot; said the SWP.·       ₱2.73 billion for the Tulong Dunong Program (Commission on Higher Education) – A duplication inserted by the House. The group cited CHED has already allocated ₱37.55 billion to cover the cost of universal access to tertiary education for all Filipino students enrolled in higher education institutions.·       ₱15.33 billion Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program for Local Government Units or LGUs (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund). &quot;This overlaps with other regular programs of the NDRRMF,&quot; said the SWP.·       ₱23.048 million Philippine Pavilion at the 2026 United Nations Climate Conference (Climate Change Commission). The group claimed that this is a bicam insertion, as it was not included in either the House or Senate versions.·       ₱5.25 billion Confidential funds (various agencies). &quot;As a general rule, civilian agencies must not engage in surveillance activities nor implement secret expenses. The President should lead by example by removing the confidential funds of his office,&quot; said the SWP.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/31/marcos-family-to-welcome-new-year-in-malaca-ang-amid-2026-budget-review-1420">Marcos, family to welcome New Year in Malacañang amid 2026 budget review</a></div> ·       ₱138 billion for social protection and assistance programs with &quot;questionable increases.&quot; This is composed of DOH Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (₱51.6 billion), DOLE’s Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (₱22.4 billion), and DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (₱63.9 billion).·       ₱56.873 billion Local Government Units assistance fund. &quot;The threefold increase by the bicam is prone to patronage and political discretion,&quot; cited the SWP.For the ₱138 billion “ayuda funds” and the ₱56.873B LGU assistance fund, SWP calls on PBBM to pass a supplemental budget immediately to revert the budget back to the National Expenditure Program levels of ₱63.4 billion and ₱6 billion, respectively.Meanwhile, to address transparency issues surrounding the ₱243.4 billion Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA), the group proposed two options for the President: First, retain all budget items except Budgetary Support to Government Corporations and the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, as both already have dedicated budgets under special purpose funds.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/30/malaca-ang-conducting-thorough-review-of-p6-79-t-2026-national-budget-0657">Malacañang ‘conducting thorough review’ of P6.79-T 2026 national budget</a></div>“The Filipino people are angry and frustrated over how their money is being spent. We call on the President to veto these questionable budget items and stand with the people. This veto is essential to rebuild the integrity of the budget process,” said Raquiza.

Budget watchdog Social Watch Philippines (SWP) has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto several "highly questionable items" from the ratified 2026 national budget bill.

Budget watchdog Social Watch Philippines (SWP) has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto several "highly questionable items" from the ratified 2026 national budget bill.

Marcos urged to veto P319-B 'questionable funds' in 2026 budget

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Marcos urged to veto P319-B 'questionable funds' in 2026 budget

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 03, 2026 09:43 PM PHT

Read More:

Veto

2026 national budget bill

SWP

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.