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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No leadership fund under 2027 budget —Palace

No leadership fund under 2027 budget —Palace

'If this happened before, it won't happen again now'

Published Aug 13, 2026 04:15 pm
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Malacañang made an assurance that there is no "leadership fund" under the proposed 2027 national budget.
"Ayon sa DPWH ay wala silang ganitong klaseng mga fund ((According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, they have no such kind of fund)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Thursday, Aug, 13.
"No leadership fund under 2027 budget," she stressed.
The Palace official was sought for confirmation that the proposed national budget did not contain such fund after former DPWH seceratry Manuel Bonoan revealed that all senators in the previous Congress allegedly availed themselves of at least P500 million each from the leadership fund under the DPWH to accommodate their pet projects.
Castro underscored that all projects proposed in the 2027 DPWH budget are based on needs of the local and regional government.
"Only projects that have completed the documentary requirements, such as plans, programs are submitted to ensure compliance with DBM guidelines, so, mahigpit po ang DBM (the DBM was strict about it)," Castro said.
While the Palace spokesperson did not categorically say that there was indeed a "leadership fund" in the previous years, she said it will not happen again.
"Noong nangyari po ito sa panahon noon, hindi po ito mangyayari sa ngayon (If this happened before, this will not happen again this time)," Castro said.
Castro, however, said the current leadership of the DPWH cannot confirm the existence of such fund as he was not yet part of the department during that time.
"Kung sa kanila po ito naganap at ito ay kanilang usapan, wala pong malalaman anuman ang sinuman—walang malalaman ang sinuman kung ito ay sariling usapan lang ni Secretary Bonoan, at kung sinuman iyong local official (If this happened and this was an agreement during their time, nobody has knowledge about this if this was a personal deal between Secretary Bonoan and whoever local official)," Castro said.
She also emphasized that if the President knew about it, he would have looked into it.
"Kung alam ng Pangulo, hindi mangyayari iyan ‘di ba...Kung alam ng Pangulo iyan, hindi niya iyan ito-tolerate at hindi iyan mangyayari. Pero, mga ganito kasing usapan, minsan lihim (If the President knew about it, it would have not happened, right. If the President knew he would not have tolerated it and it would not have happened. But agreements such this are sometimes kept secret)," Castro said.
The Palace official also clarified that they have no personal knowledge about Bonoan's revelation.

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Manuel Bonoan President Marcos leadership funds DPWH Claire Castro 2027 National Budget
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