Palace says sound infra projects funded by congressional budget will not be blocked

The Philippine government will not oppose public works projects funded through congressional budget allocations provided the money is properly spent and projects are corruption-free, according to Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro. Her statement came after a watchdog group flagged about P4 bill

The Philippine government will not oppose public works projects funded through congressional budget allocations as long as the money is properly spent and the projects are free of corruption, a Palace official said on Tuesday.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro made the statement when asked whether President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. would veto parts of the proposed national budget that lack proper documentation, including allocations for the district represented by his son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III.

The watchdog group People’s Budget Coalition flagged about P4 billion in additional public works projects for the Ilocos Norte First District Engineering Office in its analysis of the House-approved version of the proposed 2027 national budget, presented during a Senate Finance Committee consultation on Monday. The group’s findings are unofficial.

Ms. Castro said congressional allocations for district projects were not inherently problematic if they benefited residents and the funds were used as intended.

“Congressmen have their own districts that they are responsible for, and they want to see improvements in those districts. This applies to everyone, not specifically to Congressman Sandro Marcos,” she said at a news briefing in Cagayan de Oro. “If a congressman’s projects are sound and the allocated funds are used properly, who should stand in the way of funding that could improve a district?” she said in Filipino.

Ms. Castro said allocations would become problematic if funds were misused, projects existed only on paper or substandard materials were used.