Former Senate President Franklin Drilon raised concerns over the persistent presence of pork barrel in the 2025 national budget, warning that critical social programs were compromised to fund infrastructure projects.
In an interview on Tuesday, Drilon revealed that P288 billion was added to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget during the bicameral conference committee’s adjustments.
The DPWH’s original allocation, submitted at PHP 825 billion, surged to PHP 1.113 trillion following congressional realignments.
“This is the pork barrel in DPWH alone. We have not yet seen the extent of similar realignments in other agencies,” Drilon pointed out.
To fund this increase, allocations were cut from social programs, including PHP 10 billion from the Department of Education (DepEd), PHP 50 billion from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), PHP 50 billion from PhilHealth subsidies, and PHP 30 billion from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Drilon underscored that these cuts violate the constitutional provision mandating the education sector as the top priority in the budget.
“The Constitution provides that the education sector shall have the highest priority in the allocation of public funds in the budget. And I repeat, it is the education sector, not DepEd alone,” Drilon emphasized.
To address the issue, Drilon suggested two options for the President: exercise the line-item veto or persuade Congress to reconvene the bicameral committee.
“The President has the power to exercise a line-item veto. He can veto certain sections of the General Appropriations Bill in order that the constitutional mandate can be complied with,” Drilon said.
Alternatively, the President can ask Congress to revisit the budget.
“Even after the BICAM has finished its work, after it is sent to the president, in many instances, the president will return the bill and ask the BICAM to reconvene,” he explained, noting that while not technically correct, it has been done before.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of pork barrel funds when implemented correctly, Drilon urged lawmakers to ensure public welfare remains the priority.
“I am not saying that all these congressmen and senators are pocketing this. Because if implemented properly, pork barrel can have some use, can be useful,” Drilon said.
He appealed to lawmakers to handle funds responsibly.
“Kaya yan po ang ating pinapakiusap. Sana po isipin nila ang taumbayan sa paggamit ng kanilang pork barrel,” Drilon concluded.
Drilon’s remarks highlight growing concerns over budget priorities, particularly as critical sectors like education face funding cuts amid infrastructure spending increases.
