“I JOIN the call for stricter oversight, equitable distribution of funds, and lasting budget reform. The time has come to fix a broken system and to ensure that all Filipinos, regardless of where they live, benefit from the promise of inclusive and responsive governance.”
This was the statement Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, after the 2024 and 2025 national budgets have brought to light serious concerns about how public funds are allocated.
Benitez said many now question the transparency and accountability of the budget process, and more importantly, whether the final General Appropriations Act (GAA) passed by Congress truly reflects the needs of ordinary Filipinos.
“One of the most alarming trends is the centralization of massive budget allocations to a few selected regions, provinces, or local government units (LGUs),” he said.
While some areas receive overwhelming funding, he added that often for local infrastructure, many local government units (LGUs) with urgent and legitimate needs are left underfunded.
The lawmaker stressed that these disproportionate allocations run counter to the very principle of inclusive development.
“Every community, especially those that are underserved, should receive its fair share of national resources based on data, need, and long-term impact, not on political proximity or influence,” Benitez said.
He said that at the same time, vital sectors such as education, health care, and social protection are facing budget cuts.
While the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) saw its budget balloon to over P1.11 trillion in 2025, key social services were deprioritized and are now underfunded, he said.
“This has drawn public criticism, with our kababayan now asking if pork barrel politics is back just repackaged under a different label. To address these systemic issues, I fully support the proposed reforms filed by Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco,” he added.
Benitez noted that Tiangco’s bill calls for open plenary debates on all budget amendments, the creation of an independent appropriations committee, and stricter safeguards against the misuse of government aid programs.
“These are concrete and necessary steps toward restoring fairness, transparency, and accountability in the budget process,” Benitez said.
He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address (Sona), sent a firm message that questionable insertions and political maneuvering will not be tolerated under his administration.
“The national budget must reflect the real and pressing needs of our people. Every peso must be spent where it matters most: in our classrooms, health centers, public housing, livelihood programs, and local communities that have long been overlooked,” he added.
Tiangco earlier expressed dismay over the alleged “mangling” of the 2025 GAA, which he claimed was enabled by changes made by the so-called small committee. (MAP)