MANILA — Executive Secretary Ralph Recto maintained that the ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 is free from any form of pork barrel.

Speaking after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the budget, which also included the veto of nearly ₱92.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, Recto said, “In our view, it is pork–barrel–free because legislators are not allowed to interfere when it comes to executing the budget, as that is purely an executive function in the implementation of the budget.”

The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and other forms of pork barrel were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013. However, groups such as Makabayan expressed concerns that pork barrel still exists through congressional “allocables” for infrastructure, party-list allocations, presidential pork in unprogrammed appropriations, and confidential funds.

“While PDAF was struck down in 2013 for allowing lump-sum appropriations, today’s system of district allocations achieves the same result – district engineering offices receive equal amounts as if divided among lawmakers,” Makabayan said.

In his budget signing speech, Marcos vowed more prudent and responsible spending, emphasizing that each program and project would undergo “thorough evaluation to ensure that it has clear benefits for the public—especially for sectors that are in greater need.” He added, “This administration will work to improve the system, strengthen accountability, and put an end to corruption.”

The 2026 General Appropriations Act allocates funding for education, health, food security, social protection, and job creation, with education receiving the largest share of over ₱1.34 trillion, while the health sector was allotted ₱448.125 billion and agriculture over ₱297 billion.