Malacañang’s LGU program a ‘pork-giving’ event, solon claims

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio has accused Malacañang's Local Government Unit (LGU) program of being a "pork-giving event," specifically targeting the P48 billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) in the 2026 national budget. Tinio, a member of the Makabayan bloc, claims this fund is being used as a tool for political patronage ahead of the upcoming barangay and 2028 national elections. The controversy centers on significant increases in LGU-related allocations, including the LGSF's jump from PHP16 billion to PHP57.87 billion (a PHP41.87 billion increase), Financial Assistance to LGUs (FALGU) rising from PHP5 billion to PHP37.5 billion, and the Growth Equity Fund increasing from PHP1 billion to PHP11.3 billion.

Tinio specifically criticized Malacañang's recent LGU program attended by various local executives, calling it a repeat of pork barrel tactics. He recalled that during the 2026 budget deliberations in December 2025, the Makabayan bloc exposed and fought against the diversion of PHP17.9 billion to LGUs from what was originally meant for other purposes. The lawmaker argues that these funds serve as "LGU pork," "soft pork," and other variants that political dynasties use as proxies for discretionary spending, essentially functioning as a "slush fund" for rewarding allies and punishing critics.

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Malacañang has strongly denied these allegations, with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and other administration officials insisting that the PHP6.793-trillion 2026 national budget is "pork-free" and contains stricter safeguards against discretionary spending. The Palace maintains that the budget includes prohibitions on politicians distributing cash assistance (ayuda) and emphasizes strict implementation of the General Appropriations Act. Administration lawmakers have described the 2026 budget as the "cleanest ever" with tighter controls in place.

The controversy echoes historical pork barrel issues in the Philippines, including the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling that declared traditional pork barrel unconstitutional for violating budget principles. Critics argue that LGUs serve as "parking areas" for such funds in areas controlled by lawmakers' families, enabling patronage politics. Tinio and other opposition lawmakers continue to highlight what they see as rebranded pork barrel mechanisms, including DPWH "allocables" for district projects and a new PHP15.33 billion Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program for LGUs that they characterize as presidential pork for roads, bridges, and calamity aid.