Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin聽 (PPA POOL)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Monday stressed that budget releases now have 鈥渟tricter conditionalities鈥� and will be dispensed 鈥渢ransparently,鈥� in response to the Catholic clergy鈥檚 call to go beyond an 鈥渁yuda鈥�-driven budget.
The call was made by Fr. Tito Caluag during his homily in an online Mass last Sunday, where he echoed concerns about the 2025 national budget being loaded with billions of pesos for anti-poverty programs that might only encourage a culture of patronage politics ahead of the upcoming polls.
The Catholic Bishops鈥� Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) also called out the 鈥渟candalous misuse of public funds and resources; the questionable insertions, cuts, and adjustments in the national budget.鈥�
鈥淭here are now stricter conditionalities for budget releases, ensuring alignment with national priorities and protection from partisan interests.鈥� Bersamin said in a statement.
鈥淗aving undergone adjustments permitted by law, the funds will be released transparently and in accordance with good governance principles and laws,鈥� he added.
Bersamin also noted that President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� R. Marcos Jr., in signing the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), 鈥渄irectly vetoed the largest amount of appropriations in history.鈥�
鈥淣o President before him had ever so deeply and comprehensively purged the budget of unnecessary items,鈥� Bersamin said.
Marcos, Bersamin pointed out, rechannelled billions in funds to programs and projects intended to serve the common good, spur progress, and promote public welfare.
鈥淎ll of this stems from the recognition that financing the budget is shouldered by the people; therefore, its implementation must honor the sacrifices they have made,鈥� he also said.
Twelve government programs, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development鈥檚 (DSWD) Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), are subject to 鈥渃onditional implementation鈥� under the 2025 GAA.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandamann explained that items under 鈥渃onditional implementation鈥� would require issuing guidelines or compliance with relevant laws, policies, and regulations.
Last December, former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio claimed that cash assistance under AKAP 鈥渞esembles the controversial pork barrel鈥� and that 鈥渂arangay officials submit the list of beneficiaries.鈥�
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian refuted this, saying that AKAP is not 鈥減ork barrel鈥� and neither are barangay officials responsible for the list of the program beneficiaries.