To avoid the use of billions of public funds for the 2025 elections, former Senate President Franklin Drilon urged President Marcos to consider as "for later release" (FLR) all the amendments introduced by Congress in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
According to Drilon, Marcos' veto of some parts of the 2025 national budget was only "cosmetic" and only slightly affected the "pork barrels" of the lawmakers, particularly focused on the extra funds allocated for the Department of Public Works and Highways ( DPWH).
"I think the congressmen's pork barrel is still not fixed. There is still a big pork barrel left in the GAA," Drilon said in a radio interview. “Not much has changed. The pork barrel is still big in the DPWH.”
The budget for 2025 can be considered an "election-year budget," so it is necessary to be vigilant, he said. The budget should not be used as an election tool.
Drilon also said that delaying the release of controversial funds will help to avoid the perception that the budget is being used as an election tool.
He stressed that the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the release, spending, or use of public funds for public projects, including the distribution of construction materials, must be followed starting March 28 or 45 days before election day.
FLR is a mechanism implemented during the previous administration where amendments introduced by Congress that are not part of the President's National Expenditure Program are considered FLR and must meet certain conditions before funds can be released.
According to Drilon, by putting the amendments inserted by Congress under the FLR, the public will be assured that government funds will not be used for the election.
Drilon also called Marcos' veto of the P168 billion in the Unprogrammed Fund (UF) "cosmetic," because there is no allocation unless the government has excess revenue.
"The veto of unprogrammed activities is only cosmetic, because they are not supported by programmed revenues," according to Drilon.
Although P26 billion from DPWH projects were vetoed, the total amount of congressional insertions still remains at P347 billion.
ODA Assistance to DA Shortage Budget
Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be used to fill the P237.4 billion budget deficit of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for 2025, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
"I am happy with the President's support. In general, we also have a lot of ODA coming to fill the gap to do our work," he said.
Meanwhile, the DA is among the departments with the largest allocation this year.
Electrification and DILG Budget
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed the commitment to properly use the P279.1 billion funds of their agency, in line with the goal of developing local governance, peace, and safety.
Meanwhile, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the allocation of P1.87 billion is sufficient for the rural electrification program this 2025. The government's target is to provide electricity to 22,000 rural households this year.
From an electrification rate of 89% in 2023, the government is targeting 94% by 2025 and 100% by 2027.
