Senator Win Gatchalian asserts that the unprogrammed money in the 2024 national budget isn’t pork barrel, as Congress doesn’t interfere in the GAA execution post-enactment.
During a virtual briefing on Friday, when questioned, Gatchalian addressed concerns from current and former legislators that unprogrammed funds—contingent appropriations activated when revenues surpass expectations—could be utilized as senators’ and congressmen’s discretionary spending.
Gatchalian stated that pork barrel occurs only if Congress interferes with budget execution, which currently does not occur.
“Sa akin kasi ‘pag sinabi mong pork barrel ang definition d’yan is post-enactment eh. Ibig sabihin gawa na ‘yong budget, tapos nakiki-alam pa rin ‘yong Kongreso. Wala nang nangyayaring ganyan, at dapat ring maghigpit ang Executive side na walang mangyaring ganyan, dahil ‘yong implementation ng budget ngayon nasa Executive side na eh,” he said.
“So importante na ‘di na pinakikialaman ng Kongreso ang budget after na-enact na ‘yong budget. So in that definition, wala naman akong nakikitang pork barrel issue,” he added.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the system of distributing government funds to legislators for chosen projects was illegal.
Gatchalian explains unprogrammed funds in 2024 national budget
The announcement followed investigations by state officials that revealed certain legislators were funneling their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) into fake initiatives, subsequently receiving paybacks from the supposed NGOs in charge. Janet Lim Napoles, identified as the key architect of this pork barrel fraud, has faced multiple convictions.
The inquiries regarding the unallocated funds arose after ex-senator Panfilo Lacson, who scrutinized budgets while in office, raised alarms about Congress favoring this budget approach. Lacson warned that regularly including additional allocations in these unprogrammed funds by Congress could set a troubling pattern for the future.
Lacson addressed concerns from Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel that the 2024 budget might encounter legal challenges for exceeding the limit established by the initially proposed budget, the NEP.
For 2024, the maximum amount is set at P5768 trillion. Lacson’s worries stem from the 1987 Constitution’s Article VI Section 25, mandating that Congress cannot raise the President’s proposed spending in the yearly budget.
Gatchalian clarified that designating some 2024 items as unprogrammed funds guarantees prioritization of key budget components within the P5768 trillion cap.
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