Majority solons Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre have denied Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco's allegation that congressmen are made to "beg" for "ayuda" or aid funds from the House Speaker’s office.

Both Chua and Acidre were incredulous over the notion, which Tiangco--an independent in the House of Representatives--floated Tuesday, July 29 or a day after President Marcos' State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"Ha? (What?) We merely ask the Office of the Speaker to endorse our request," Chua said when told about Tiangco's remarks.

"At the end of the day, it is still the discretion of the department to approve or disapprove our request," he said.

Tiangco earlier told the Speaker's office to "stop controlling AICS, AKAP, TUPAD, and MAIP".

He was referring to the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, Ayuda sa Kapos sa Kita Program, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers, and Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients, respectively.

"What's happening now, Congressmen are forced to request allocations from the Office of the Speaker. Dapat ang ahensiya lang ng DSWD, DOLE, at DOH ang may kontrol dito (The Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Health should be the only agencies that can control these)," he said.

"When you have to beg from the Office of the Speaker, it blatantly becomes the Speaker's pork barrel, given their power to approve, disapprove, or dictate the amount to be given," Tiangco claimed.

Acidre said: "I strongly disagree with the statement made by Cong. Toby Tiangco. To say that members of Congress have to 'beg' from the Office of the Speaker is not only inaccurate—it is also unfair."

Acidre flatly said that the Office of the Speaker neither has control nor decides unilaterally over the allocation of programs such as AICS, AkAP, TUPAD, and MAIP.

Echoing Chua, Acidre insisted that it's the line agencies such as the DSWD, DOLE, and DOH that implement the aid programs subject to national guidelines, agency priorities, and existing budget laws.

"What the Speaker’s office does is facilitate," the party-list solon said.

"It ensures that the assistance reaches even the farthest and poorest districts in the country, especially those without strong political connections or influence in the bureaucracy. It levels the playing field—so that even small or marginalized congressional districts are not left behind," he explained.

"And that’s not “pork”—that’s compassionate and inclusive leadership," Acidre underscored.

He further reminded Tiangco that "The Speaker is not acting for himself. He is acting for the institution."

"The Speaker’s role is to ensure that every district—regardless of political color—has a fighting chance to serve its people. To paint this facilitative role as some form of centralized control or 'pork barrel' is a disservice to the thousands of Filipino families who have benefitted from the timely and much-needed assistance facilitated through the Speaker’s office," he said.

As a parting short, Acidre further said: "Let us not politicize public service. If we truly care about our constituents, then we must support every effort that makes aid more accessible—not tear down systems that are working just because of personal or political frustrations."