The Makabayan bloc voted against House Bill No. 4058, the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, during its ratification on December 29, denouncing it as “a budget designed for the political survival of the corrupt Marcos administration… that perpetuates systemic corruption through billions in pork barrel funds.”
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio’s attempt to be recognized was ignored as the House leadership railroaded passage in under a minute. Gabriela’s Sarah Elago and Kabataan’s Renee Co joined Tinio in rejecting the bicameral report.
Makabayan branded claims of a “pork-free” budget as “a brazen lie,” citing presidential, vice-presidential, generals’ pork, and a new ₱73.2-billion LGU pork.
“Even the Calamity Fund was converted into pork,” the coalition said, pointing to the ₱15.3-billion Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program.
The bloc also assailed the intact ₱8-billion NTF-ELCAC fund and the hike in confidential and intelligence funds to over ₱11 billion.
“To fund these pork barrel allocations, the bicameral committee slashed funds for salaries, benefits, and regularization of government employees,” it said, noting ₱43.25 billion in personnel services now sits in Unprogrammed Appropriations.
Makabayan warned that General Provision No. 78 allows the President to impound funds and create “savings” for pork.
It criticized ballooning allocations for short-term aid programs like AICS (₱63.9 billion) and MAIFIP (₱51.6 billion), saying these rebrand patronage politics.
The bloc further hit Marcos’ “exclusive soft pork” for farmers and fisherfolk, calling it token assistance instead of genuine agrarian reform.
Education meanwhile gets only a 4% increase, which Makabayan said will worsen “state abandonment.”
“With its back against the wall, the Marcos administration is tightening its grip on public funds through bloated pork barrel allocations,” the coalition said. “Whatever shiny coating he will deploy, this is a budget for systemic corruption and fascist repression.” (ZIA LUNA)
