P4.74B for Sandro, P5.2M for Pulong

The congressional district represented by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s son received a P4.38-billion increase in infrastructure funding under the House version of the 2027 national budget, while the district of Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, a son of former President Rodrigo Duterte and a vocal critic of the administration, saw no change in its allocation.

The disparity, flagged by budget watchdog BetterGov.ph, has raised questions about the distribution of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) funds and whether political considerations influenced budget priorities.

The Engineering Office of the 1st District of Ilocos Norte, which is represented by Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, saw its allocation balloon from P369 million in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to P4.74 billion in the House version of the General Appropriations Bill.

In contrast, Pulong Duterte’s district allocation remained at P5.2 million, receiving no increase in the House version of the budget.

The discrepancy was noted by former Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Representative Bernadette Herrera who warned against using the national budget as a political weapon.

“Taxpayer money should never be used as a political weapon. When lawmakers use budget amendments or insertions to reward political allies at the expense of communities in greater need, that is a betrayal of public trust,” Herrera, who is now the spokesperson of Bagong Henerasyon, said Tuesday.

Other Davao City districts represented by administration critics also saw no changes in their allocations. The district of Rep. Omar Duterte, a son of Pulong, retained its P4.2-million allocation, while that of Rep. Isidro Ungab remained at P119.7 million.

Once partners in politics, the Marcos and Duterte families are now fierce enemies.

Meanwhile, other districts represented by key House leaders received substantial increases.

The engineering district in the constituency of House Appropriations Committee Chair Mikaela Suansing received a P1.15-billion increase, bringing its allocation to P3.68 billion.

The DPWH 4th District Engineering Office in Isabela, which is under House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy and Rep. Joseph Tan, received a P1.52-billion increase.

Other major increases were added to the bailiwicks of Davao de Oro 2nd District Rep. Leonel “Jhong” Ceniza, which received a total allocation of P1.68 billion; Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Sancho Fernando “Ando” Oaminal, with P1.65 billion, and the South Cotabato 2nd District Engineering Office, covering the districts of Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez and Rep. Dibu Tuan, with P1.58 billion.

‘Inherently not improper’

Herrera acknowledged that budget insertions were not inherently improper, as Congress exercises the power of the purse under the 1987 Constitution. However, she said funds should be allocated according to actual infrastructure needs rather than political affiliation.

“Budget insertions become wrong when you remove funds for projects that are needed by one province to fund a project of an ally. Are the roads there more broken, or is it because the congressmen are closer to the kitchen?” she asked.

She said the DPWH has mechanisms to assess road conditions and identify infrastructure requiring urgent repairs.

“Our decisions must always be data-driven. If flood control will be funded, which communities often experience severe flooding? If it is a multipurpose building, where is it really needed, who will use it, and for what?” she said.

BetterGov.ph also found that none of the lawmakers representing the 20 district engineering offices that received the biggest budget increases voted against the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, Pulong’s sister.

The findings do not establish that allocations were deliberately adjusted to reward allies or penalize critics, however, Herrera said the pattern demands an explanation.

“Congress must explain why public money is moving this way. The people deserve roads, flood control, and services based on need — not on who is closest to power,” she said.

Sandro Marcos and the other congressmen have yet to comment on the revelations.