Politics · Philippines Bureau
Suansing defends 2027 budget against pork barrel allegations
Nueva Ecija Representative Mikaela Angela Suansing has rejected claims that the proposed 2027 national budget contains pork barrel spending, dismissing criticism from progressive groups and budget watchdogs.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Nueva Ecija Representative Mikaela Angela Suansing rejected allegations that the House of Representatives' proposed 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) contains pork barrel provisions, saying the budget adheres to fiscal discipline guidelines.
Speaking in an online interview with House reporters on Friday, Suansing, who chairs the relevant budget committee, countered assertions from progressive lawmakers and budget monitoring organizations that questioned the allocation of funds in the spending measure.
The congresswoman maintained that the proposed 2027 budget underwent rigorous scrutiny to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure that appropriations align with the government's development priorities and constitutional requirements.
The defense comes as budget deliberations continue in the chamber, with various stakeholders examining the allocation of some 5.7 trillion pesos in proposed government spending for the coming fiscal year.