The proposed 2026 national budget remains targeted for political survival as it is stuffed with soft pork, or patronage aid, in contrast to the previous budget’s hard pork, which were the pet infrastructure insertions. 

Hard pork examples, such as the overpriced flood control projects, have been scrutinized, which has halted many such projects and deterred members of Congress from proposing infrastructure projects in their allocables, or reserved allocations, in the budget.

Days ahead of the President’s projected signing of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Teachers Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio condemned the transfer in the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam), despite its being livestreamed, of over P43 billion in critical personnel benefits from guaranteed funding to the “corruption-ridden” Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA).

Congress had chosen to guarantee billions in new lump-sum “LGU pork” under the Local Government Support Fund while putting the rightful compensation and retirement security of public sector workers on the chopping block,” Tinio indicated.

The lawmaker cited the ratified 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) report, and pointed out the transfer of P10.77 billion for salary upgrades and P32.47 billion for retirement and terminal leave benefits from the programmed Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) and Pension and Gratuity Fund (PGF), programs for government employee retirees, such as teachers and uniformed personnel.

The combined total of P43.24 billion was transferred to a UA line item labeled “For Payment of Personnel Services Requirements.” 

“This is a brutal betrayal of our civil servants. Following the ratified bicam report, the  GAA  has deliberately turned the mandatory benefits of hundreds of thousands of government employees, including our teachers, as well as military and uniformed personnel, into a mere suggestion, subject to the availability of funds,” Tinio noted.

Tentative funding

Tinio pointed out that transferring funds to the UA makes their payment “subject to the availability of funds,” for example, when the government generates excess revenue.

“From being assured of funding under the regular or programmed budget, it became uncertain after being moved to the ‘standby’ or unprogrammed budget. As a result, the payment of these benefits was rendered uncertain,” he explained.

The lawmaker cited the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for 2025, in which Department of Education personnel and other employees complained that they were shorted on the P20,000 benefit due to alleged lack of funds.

“This was already done to us in 2025. The full SRI has not yet been released due to funding constraints. Now, they are gambling with our salaries and pensions for the coming year. This is a clear policy of neglect — one that sacrifices the welfare of employees and teachers,” Tinio said.

Employees of several other special-fund repositories, such as the Philippine Insurance Deposit Corp. (PDIC), have reported similar fund drains, resulting in shortchanged benefits.

Manipulative effort

Congress is now focusing on personnel funds as a buffer against a possible presidential veto of the controversial UA. Tinio called the move “manipulative and cruel” for the supposed beneficiaries.

“They are hiding behind the needs of teachers and civil servants to preserve a system of unprogrammed funds that has become a cesspool of corruption. Funds for teachers, government employees, and even retired soldiers and police will be placed under the UA to serve as a shield against criticism. They will say, ‘If the UA is removed, salaries and pensions can no longer be paid.’ This is manipulative and cruel,” Tinio asserted.

Tinio reiterated his call for the President to veto the UA and urged the executive to restore the P43 billion for salary upgrades and retirement benefits for government personnel.

“We maintain our call — veto the UA in the 2026 GAB. However, this must be paired with an immediate commitment from the executive to submit a supplemental budget at the earliest opportunity, specifically to restore the P43.245 billion for salary upgrades and retirement benefits,” Tinio said.

“Do not hold the salaries and benefits of public servants hostage to protect a corrupt system. The people’s money must first and foremost go to the people’s servants, not to the pork barrel and corrupt contractors,” he stressed.