DAVAO CITY – Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte raised concerns over the inclusion of new discretionary funds in the proposed national budget, citing the lack of accountability over what he described as nearly P1-trillion worth of unresolved corruption.

His remarks on Wednesday, Dec. 17, came after the Bicameral Conference Committee approved a P63.9-billion budget for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program in the proposed 2026 national budget.

The budget is P37 billion higher than the P26.9 billion proposed in the National Expenditure Program. The increase followed after the bicameral panel adopted the House version of the proposed P6.7-trillion national budget, allocating P63 billion for AICS.

Of the total allocation for AICS, a significant portion—P32.6 billion—was sourced from funds realigned from flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“While no one has been held accountable for corruption, new discretionary funds are being introduced, expanded during the bicam committee deliberations, passed without transparency, and ultimately charged to the public,” Duterte said.

The Davao lawmaker criticized what he described as the quiet expansion of funds during the bicameral process and warned that the lack of clear explanations and responsibility creates opportunities for abuse.

Duterte stressed that an effective anti-corruption campaign should prioritize holding accountable those responsible for large-scale irregularities, rather than creating new funding mechanisms that could be misused.

He questioned whether this would always be the way these people behind did things. “It is unacceptable that while questions surrounding P1 trillion remain unanswered, a new P63.9 billion is being released,” he added.

The lawmaker pointed to alleged budget realignments, claiming that funds initially allocated for flood control were removed and transferred to the AICS program. He alleged that AICS is being used as a political tool by the allies of Malacañang.

Citing on-the-ground observations, Duterte said more than half of the promised assistance often fails to reach its intended beneficiaries. He warned that the public is noticing recurring budget patterns and stressed that government funds are limited.

Duterte concluded by saying that questions raised by the public should not be ignored, as concerns over transparency and accountability persist regarding the handling of government funds.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian said the House’s proposal is justifiable, noting that in the past two years, all AICS funds have been fully utilized, forcing the government to rely on unprogrammed funds to provide aid to those in need.