MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson urged the government to insulate the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) assistance programs from political interference, saying years of abuse during election seasons highlight the need for reform.

In his interpellation of the DSWD’s proposed 2026 budget, Lacson said ayuda programs must be implemented solely by agency personnel to prevent them from being used as tools for patronage. He commended the Senate finance committee for removing funding for the Strengthening Assistance for Social Programs from unprogrammed appropriations.

“We must fix the DSWD’s budget. I’m all for helping the needy but this should be data-driven and there should be a clear program. It should not be whimsical, arbitrary and politically motivated,” he said, noting he had spoken with Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian about streamlining the agency’s allocations.

Under the Senate version of the 2026 budget bill, the DSWD’s funding stood at P230.016 billion. The agency’s budget was P221.357 billion under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and increased to P39.940 billion in the House version before being revised in the Senate.

Major assistance programs were likewise adjusted. Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) was pegged at P27.036 billion in the NEP, rose to P59.091 billion in the House version, and was brought back down to P27.028 billion by the Senate. The Strengthening Assistance for Social Programs, initially allotted P80.8 billion in the NEP and reduced to P45 billion by the House, was slashed to zero in the Senate version.

Lacson cited spending patterns that showed sharp increases in AICS budgets during election years. Allocations rose by 68.8 percent between 2021 and 2022—from P23.56 billion to P39.76 billion. From 2024 to 2025, funding likewise grew by around 30 percent, from P34.27 billion to P44.44 billion.

“The pattern I’m trying to show is that the AICS’ budget balloons during election years,” he said.

Lacson also raised concerns over large-scale aid distribution events attended by legislators, saying these instances turn a government social welfare program into a political activity. He added that DSWD personnel are sometimes pressured to produce high turnout numbers during such events in election years.

“My point is, it’s time we put a stop to this practice and allow DSWD to do their own thing,” he said.

The senator pointed to reports from Iloilo City where residents alleged that most of their P10,000 cash aid from the DSWD was taken by individuals linked to barangay and city hall personnel during payout. Some recipients reportedly complied out of fear they would be excluded from future distributions.

“I’m not trying to lecture here but these are all relevant information we are sharing with the body so we can correct and remedy these malpractices,” Lacson said.