Malacañang dismisses 'presidential pork barrel' claim on LGSF as intrigue

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

Malacañang on Wednesday again defended the proposed P58.53-billion allocation for the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) in the 2027 national budget after critics, led by Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, described it as a “presidential pork barrel.”

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said describing the LGSF as a presidential pork barrel was merely “pang-intriga” (for intrigue).

“Karapatan niyang tumakbo kahit saang korte pero dapat siguraduhin lamang po niya na mayroong basehan dahil kung mabibigyan lamang siya o aaralin po niya ang proseso kung paano nairi-release ang LGSF sa mga LGU (local government units), malamang ay maliwanagan po siya,” Castro said, referring to Erice.

(It is his right to go to whatever court, but he should make sure that there is a basis because if he is given [the information], or if he studies the process of how the LGSF is released to LGUs, he will likely be enlightened.)

Castro made the statement in response to Erice’s questioning of the proposed LGSF allocation under the 2027 National Expenditure Program and his suggestion that he could bring the matter before the Supreme Court if necessary.

Erice said granting the executive department the power to decide on LGSF allocations effectively gives the President a “blank check” and amounts to Congress abdicating its constitutionally mandated power of the purse.

Erice has repeatedly cited the LGSF allocation granted to Naga City for the rehabilitation of the Jesse Robredo Coliseum. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally presented the allocation to Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, which Erice said gave the impression that the administration was courting her as a potential candidate.

Castro said that although she did not want to mention Robredo’s name again in the issue, the Naga City mayor had already explained how the local government applied for the LGSF.

“As soon as I assumed office in 2025, I tried to look for funding already for its rehabilitation. It was difficult because of the big amount that is required. Senator Kiko Pangilinan advised me that we could apply for LGSF funding because of the nature of the project, which we did,” Robredo wrote in a Facebook post.

Castro also pointed to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Belgica v. Executive Secretary, which she said did not prohibit the LGSF.

“Hindi po ipinagbabawal ng Supreme Court ang LGSF,” Castro said.

(The Supreme Court does not prohibit the LGSF.)

The Supreme Court, in its 2013 ruling in Belgica v. Ochoa, declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and similar congressional pork barrel mechanisms unconstitutional, saying they allowed lawmakers to intervene in the post-enactment stages of budget execution.

The Court also struck down provisions granting broad discretion to the President over certain lump-sum funds for failing to meet the constitutional requirement of sufficient standards.— MCG, GMA News