PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday told local government officials to be uncompromising in the fight against corruption as he called for an end to the “unscrupulous abuse of power and greed” of some people.
The President made the call during the oathtaking of new officials of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) in Malacañang, amid what he described as “recent challenges” that are confronting the country such as anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects, involving lawmakers being linked to corruption.
Marcos said the people are already exhausted, disappointed and angry, which public servants should not ignore.
“As I have said before, their rage is valid. It is born from years of frustration at a government characterized by systemic dysfunction and unfulfilled promises,” he said.
“Let us not dismiss that anger. Let us confront it. Let us be humble and provide concrete solutions. Alam naman natin ang mga mali, kaya dapat nating itama (We know what is wrong, so we should correct it). Reforming our government is the only way we have to win back the trust of our people,” he added.
The President said Filipinos expect government leaders to be the champions of progress, transparency, inclusivity and accountability at all times.
Marcos said while the country’s leaders, especially the elected officials, come from different provinces and political parties and have varying perspectives, they must still unite in serving the people by proving that true service does not have any political color.
The President recognized the role of vice governors, who he said are a vital link between the national development agenda and the realities of governance in their provinces.
Marcos commended their efforts, especially the LVGP, in strengthening the leadership and legislative capabilities of local officials through capacity-building activities and regional summits.
The LVGP officers for 2025 to 2028 are headed by Ma. Cristina Garcia of Bataan, national president, and Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas, national chairman.
Marcos has created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) which was tasked to investigate corruption in the projects. It is headed by former Supreme Court associate justice Andres Reyes, with former public works secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV & Company country managing partner Rossana Fajardo as members.
Former Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka has been named executive director. The latest appointee is police chief general Rodolfo Azurin Jr., as special adviser and investigator.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro defended Azurin amid criticisms of his appointment as he has been tagged in an alleged coverup of a drug haul operation in 2022.
Castro said Azurin was not convicted, and he was chosen as replacement of resigned Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong because of his experience and ability as an investigator. She said Azurin is also not a politician.
UNPROGRAMMED FUNDS
Rep. Antonio Tinio (PL, ACT) blamed Marcos for approving a total of P214.4 billion in unprogrammed funds in the 2023 and 2024 national budgets, saying it funded the flood control items that were eventually discovered as “ghost” or non-existent projects.
Tinio belied the Executive’s claim that the President has no hand in approving unprogrammed funds, citing Executive Order No. 292, which states that expenditures from lump sum appropriations “shall be made in accordance with a special budget to be approved by the President.”
“…it’s clear that we’ve established that the approval of almost 4,000 additional infrastructure projects funded from unprogrammed appropriations, all of it, to be funded, needs the approval of the President,” he said in Filipino during the plenary deliberations on the DPWH’s proposed P625.8-billion budget for 2026.
Tinio urged the Palace to explain the basis for the fund releases, noting the huge and unprecedented increases in the unprogrammed funds under the Marcos Jr. administration: P807 billion in 2023, P731 billion in 2024, and around P363 billion for this year.
Tinio said there were 3,770 public works projects worth P214.4 billion that were placed under unprogrammed funds, P61.4 billion in 2023 for 1,889 projects, and a whopping P153 billion the next year for 1,811 projects.
Unprogrammed appropriations are standby appropriations in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) that can only be funded when the government gets to collect enough revenues during the fiscal year.
Tinio said unprogrammed funds, which some critics also call “pork barrel,” are also are lump-sum allocations without line items, which makes it almost impossible to be scrutinized.
Tinio pointed out that majority of the unprogrammed funds went to provinces, which he called the “usual suspects” in the flood control fund scandal like Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, Speaker Faustino Dy III said the House may need another week for plenary debates as they may not be able to wrap up plenary deliberations by Thursday as originally planned.
He said House leaders will have to decide if they will extend the plenary deliberations until next week to approve the 2026 budget since the session is set to adjourn on October 10. – With Wendell Vigilia
