Tinio flags alleged ‘pork’ in House’s proposed 2027 national budget

MANILA – ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio flagged on Friday alleged “pork” in the proposed 2027 national budget, which the House of Representatives approved on 2nd reading last Wednesday. 

Among the proposed allocations he tagged as “pork” are those for the construction of multi-purpose buildings and local roads.

He said the legislative districts represented by some House leaders were covered by the Department of Public Works and Highways District Engineering Offices with the biggest allocations under the 2027 House General Appropriations Bill. 

According to Tinio, the top five DEOs in terms of proposed 2027 allocations are Ilocos Norte 1st at P4.79 billion, Nueva Ecija 1st at P3.91 billion, Bulacan 2nd at P3.5 billion, Isabela 4th at P3.1 billion, and Metro Manila 3rd at P2.99 billion. 

The House increased the proposed 2027 allocation for Ilocos Norte 1st DEO by P4.38 billion, for Nueva Ecija 1st DEO by P1.07 billion, and for Isabela 4th DEO by P1.52 billion, he said.

“Talagang under the pork barrel system, which this is, talagang ‘yung mga nasa leadership, sa umiiral na administrasyon, ‘yun ang nakakakuha ng lion’s share. Kaya nga dito, hindi naman nakakapagtaka, ‘di ba? Number one, pinakamalaki, Ilocos. Tapos sunod, Nueva Ecija. Tapos pang-apat, Isabela. So, you know, malinaw naman… Sino ba ang mga kongresistang nandoon, di ba?” 

“Well, obviously, I’m talking about the majority leader, the chair of committee on appropriations, and the Speaker, di ba? Among others, saklaw ang kanilang mga distrito ng mga district engineering offices na ito,” Tinio added. 

People’s Budget Coalition’s Co-Convenor AJ Montesa also observed the infrastructure allocations in the proposed 2027 national budget are “politicized.” 

“Dalawang lump-sum na linya sa DPWH and pinag-piyestahan: multi-purpose buildings (P42.7B) at access roads (P29.2B). Kailangan ito pag-aralan nang mabuti dahil noong BARSc, walang project list na pinublish. Ang mga District Engineering Office, +P53.7B. Ang Ilocos Norte 1st DEO, mula P414 million naging P4.79 billion,” he explained.

ABS-CBN News reached out to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, and House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing for comment, but they have yet to respond. 

‘PORK-TYPE’ AMENDMENTS

Montesa and Tinio also flagged the House-proposed increases to government aid programs like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, Medical Assistance Program, and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers Program. Tinio believes these are “pork-type” amendments.  

‘Yung mga amendments na ipinasok ng House dito, pangunahin ‘yung mga pork barrel amendments. Ibig sabihin, pinalaki ‘yung mga infrastructure allocations para sa kanilang mga distrito, tapos ‘yung mga pork-type ayuda, katulad ng AICS, Medical Assistance, TUPAD, mga scholarship sa CHED at TESDA, and so on. ‘Yung mga ayuda na discretion o kongresista ang magdedecide kung paano i-allocate ito, samantalang dapat karapatan ‘yan ng mamamayan. Hindi na kailangan dumaan sa kongresista. Kasama rin sa pinalaki ‘yung LGSF, local government support fund, at maging ‘yung budget mismo ng Kongreso na dinagdagan pa ng P5 billion,” he said. 

“Lahat ng ito, may naka-park na allocation ang mga politiko sa ahensya ha hindi pinapakita sa publiko,” Montes added.

Tinio, meanwhile, said the House reduced the executive-proposed 2027 allocations for Foreign-Assisted Projects, the Department of Education’s programs or classrooms and computerization, the Department of Health’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program, nationally procured commodities for family health, immunization, nutrition and responsible parenting, calamity fund, and Pension and Gratuity Fund.

“‘Yun ang cost ng mga pagdagdag sa pork barrel infrastructure ng mga district and party list representatives as well. At saka itong cuts sa social services na even though may mga dagdag partikular sa porma ng ayuda para sa health at para sa education, ay binawi naman dahil may mga cuts sa mga mahahalagang programa mismo ng health and education. Tapos apektado rin ‘yung benefits, particular ‘yung retirement benefits ng government employees,” he said.

‘NO PORK’

House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin denied allegations of “pork” and “politicized infra allocations” in the House-proposed 2027 national budget. She said among the BARSc’s and the lower chamber’s considerations in the budget realignments are the projects’ readiness for implementation and the need for it.

“‘Yung sa infrastructure projects, sa pagkakaintindi ko, upon review, tiningnan diyan ‘yung masyadong mababa ‘yung mga utilization. ‘Yung mga problema sa road right of way, ‘yung mga problema dahil wala pang design. 

“If we talk about ‘yung flood mitigation facilities with major river basins… importante kasi na mayroon ka talagang masterplan. At noong pinag-uusapan nga, medyo natagalan kami kasi hinihintay ‘yung report ng NOAH, and then ‘yung mga report ng kinommission na magdedesign. Apparently it cannot be done in so short a span of time, so magkakaroon ng flood control projects in selected areas na ready na. Pero ‘yung ibang major river basins ay naghihintay pa ng appropriate design. So napakahirap na bigyan, lagyan mo ng pondo, pagkatapos, they were telling us na the design and all other necessary document, including talking to the community will take at least one and a half years or 1 to 2 years,” Garin explained.

“There was a list of talagang urgent and needed, pero ‘yung nasa baba na hindi na talaga nasama sa pondo, ‘yun ‘yung isinama. Technically those that are waitlisted. Those that have been waitlisted. (02:48) It’s basically based on the need, ‘yung mga pasunod sunod na nakalatag na sa tier 2 ng bawat ahensiya,” she  added. 

Suansing previously denied claims that “pork” existed in the BARSc’s proposed amendments to the 2027 national budget.