October 12, 2025 – Manila, Philippines — A coalition of civil society organizations and budget watchdogs has revealed that the House of Representatives’ version of the 2026 national budget contains an estimated ₱230 billion in alleged “pork barrel” funds.
In an open letter addressed to Congress, the coalition urged lawmakers to reallocate the entire amount toward essential programs focused on social protection, healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable transportation — sectors they said are crucial for inclusive national development.
The coalition expressed strong opposition to what they described as the continued misuse of public funds through political patronage and corruption embedded in the budget process.
“We cannot allow the General Appropriations Act to become a playground of patronage and corruption. Congress must correct the allocations, cleanse the budget, and restore integrity in the budget process,” the letter stated.
Among the signatories of the open letter were Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, former Senator Franklin Drilon, and representatives from various advocacy groups including the People’s Budget Coalition, PH Budget Watch, Roundtable for Inclusive Development, Move as One Coalition, FOI Youth Initiative, and Project Gunita.
The coalition emphasized that public funds should be spent on programs that directly benefit the Filipino people, not on projects designed to favor political allies or advance personal interests.
They also called on citizens to stay vigilant and demand transparency in the deliberation and approval of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), underscoring that the national budget must reflect accountability and good governance.