A coalition of concerned groups has issued a stark warning regarding the recently approved national budget, raising serious concerns over potential corruption and political maneuvering within its P6.793 trillion framework.
The Roundtable for Inclusive Development and the People’s Budget Coalition are urging the President to intervene, specifically highlighting over P633 billion in projects they believe are vulnerable to misuse and patronage.
Their primary recommendation centers on vetoing P243 billion in unprogrammed appropriations – often referred to as “shadow pork” – funds that operate outside the standard budgetary process and lack sufficient transparency.
These unprogrammed funds, the groups argue, circumvent legislative oversight and potentially violate previous Supreme Court rulings regarding the use of public funds, even challenging the constitutional separation of powers.
Another key concern is the P43 billion SAGIP program, which has a history of being linked to questionable flood control projects, raising fears of a repeat of past irregularities.
The groups are also calling for a fundamental shift in how P210 billion allocated for assistance programs – often termed “soft pork” – is distributed, advocating for a rights-based, rules-based system guided by experts.
Currently, these aid programs are susceptible to political influence, forcing citizens into a position of dependence on politicians, a practice they deem inhumane and unconstitutional.
Furthermore, the coalition is demanding greater scrutiny of P11 billion in confidential and intelligence funds, emphasizing the need for accountability in their allocation and use.
To address the risk of corruption in large-scale infrastructure projects – totaling P600 billion – they propose a citizen-led monitoring initiative, funded by either the government or independent international research programs.
This call for oversight comes after intense public scrutiny of the 2025 budget, sparked by the discovery of numerous questionable allocations and congressional insertions, leading to widespread protests demanding transparency.
The groups emphasize that the national budget belongs to the people, and they remain dedicated to working with the President to ensure that every peso is used responsibly and benefits the nation as a whole.
