MANILA — Malacañang has defended the proposed P4.37-billion infrastructure allocation for the congressional district of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s son, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, amid mounting questions over whether political influence is driving the distribution of billions of pesos in public funds under the proposed 2027 national budget.
The Palace insisted that accusations of favoritism and corruption were premature, stressing that the controversial allocation remains subject to further scrutiny and approval before any funds can be released.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the P4.37 billion identified for Marcos’ district in Ilocos Norte should not be mistaken for a final funding commitment.
“Hindi pa po ibig sabihin na na-propose po ito ay ibibigay na po lahat iyong P4 billion or sinumang magbibigay ng kanilang mga proposed projects sa [Department of Public Works and Highways]. Hindi pa po dito natatapos,” Castro said during a press briefing in Bukidnon.
The controversy erupted after the People’s Budget Coalition revealed that the district engineering office covering Sandro Marcos’ constituency received P4.37 billion in proposed budget reallocations — the largest amount among districts identified by the watchdog group.
The disclosure raised concerns over the fairness of infrastructure spending, particularly because the biggest proposed allocation would benefit a district represented by the President’s son.
Caloocan 2nd District Cong. Edgar Erice denounced the reported realignment, describing the diversion of billions of pesos from priority projects toward a single congressional district as an act of “callousness.”
Castro, however, challenged critics to substantiate allegations of wrongdoing, arguing that the inclusion of projects in the House-approved budget does not automatically establish corruption.
She emphasized that the proposed allocations must still undergo further legislative scrutiny before becoming part of the final national spending program.
The Palace also maintained that President Marcos would not approve funding for projects lacking sufficient justification or clear public benefits.
“Hindi maaaring magastos ang pondo sa walang saysay, walang pakinabang na proyekto,” Castro said.
Malacañang urged budget watchdogs to continue examining questionable allocations and identifying potentially unnecessary projects, although Castro appealed for restraint in their language when criticizing the administration.
The controversy has also drawn attention to substantial proposed infrastructure allocations for districts represented by other lawmakers allied with the President.
According to the People’s Budget Coalition, House Appropriations Committee chairperson Mikaela Suansing of Nueva Ecija and House Speaker Faustino Dy III were among the lawmakers whose districts were identified as beneficiaries of significant budget reallocations.
Other lawmakers from Dy’s home province of Isabela were likewise included in the watchdog group’s findings.
The disclosures have intensified scrutiny of how infrastructure funds are distributed among congressional districts and whether proposed allocations reflect development priorities rather than political considerations.
As of Thursday, the Senate had yet to approve its version of the proposed 2027 national budget.
The House and Senate versions must still be reconciled by a bicameral conference committee before the spending measure is submitted to President Marcos for final approval.
Until then, the Palace maintained, the disputed allocations remain proposals rather than guaranteed funding./PN
