Watchdogs tag pork insertions

An emerging technology pierced the veil of secrecy surrounding the 2027 national budget that appeared to have been manipulated to generate kickback-rich pork projects and promote patronage in the run-up to the 2028 national elections.

Using artificial intelligence, watchdogs monitoring the budget process identified pork projects inserted through amendments in the proposed national budget.

Public finance specialist Zy-za Nadine Suzara took to social media to share their findings on the 2027 House General Appropriations Bill (HGAB), where P541.4 billion in “pork” was generated.

“The involved lawmakers are accountable for consuming the fiscal space and defunding the P130 billion in foreign-assisted projects in the 2027 proposed budget,” Suzara said.

“You are all disgusting,” she added.

Transcripts obtained from the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) of the appropriations panel were run through artificial intelligence (AI).

A website was specifically crafted to oversee the entire budget process.

The platform was built by award-winning Filipino journalist, media advisor, and technologist Jaemark Tordecilla, who specializes in generative AI and newsroom innovation. It sifted through information on the BARSc hearings and the House Committee on Appropriations hearings on different agencies’ budgets.

Based on records of the BARSc hearings, the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) — previously identified as soft pork — received an additional P4.09 billion, from the P58.53 billion in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), or the President’s budget.

‘Ayuda’ fattened

The insertions jacked up cash subsidy programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk.

These programs received P67.5 billion in additional funding from the BARSc which conducted its hearing on 1 October. The amendments increased soft pork allocations in the budget by 94.1 percent compared to the 2027 NEP.

The TUPAD program, meanwhile, received P5 billion to its original P14.24 billion allocation.

Another insertion was P24.96 billion into the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.

As for the AICS program, amendments of P25.80 billion was embedded, on top of the P33 billion in the executive-proposed budget.

JV not allowing budget perversion

With the HGAB formally transmitted to the Senate, finance committee chairperson Senator JV Ejercito confirmed that the House version of the budget had “significant changes” compared to the NEP.

The senator admitted he was puzzled by the budget changes, noting that funding for certain programs were either removed or reduced.

Ejercito said they would not take the amendments at face value and would review the bill to identify why the changes were made while ensuring that sectors that needed funding would receive it.

“We simply need to understand the changes, the reasons and purposes behind them, and how the funds will reach those who need them most,” he said.

“Rest assured we will maintain transparency from the very beginning,” he added.

Ejercito said they would allow civil society organizations to participate in the Senate budget process to ensure transparency and accountability.