Unprogrammed Appropriations
Pork barrel 2026 budget fails development
January 5, 2026
Contrary to official claims, the budget does not mark a shift toward a genuinely “people-centered development agenda”. It remains oriented toward short-term political survival rather than long-term development outcomes.
Porkiest of all
November 28, 2025
Marcos Jr is the porkiest of them all, sustaining the past administration’s bloated, confidential, intelligence funds and contingent funds since the start of his term. But what clinches him the title “king of pork” is the scandalous spiking of unprogrammed appropriations under his watch.
Gov’t mishandling of PhilHealth violates right to health, exposes budget mispriorities
February 5, 2025
The PhilHealth controversy is only a specific example of worsening underfunding of social services and social protection. It further reveals how flawed the budget process is.
Not another PhilHealth mess, please
August 25, 2024
Why is the Marcos Jr government maneuvering to centralize PhilHealth’s robust funds when ordinary Filipinos – the PhilHealth members and sponsored indigents – are receiving less and less health services? This is unraveling to be just one of the many ironies in the Marcos Jr government’s optimistic portrayal of the national situation.
