MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s office firmly denied any control over the allocation of funds for key government aid programs. They clarified that the implementation and funding decisions belong exclusively to executive agencies.
House spokesperson Princess Abante emphasized that contrary to claims by Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, Speaker Romualdez does not influence programs like Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP).
Executive Agencies Handle Aid Programs
According to the Office of the Speaker, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Health (DOH) are the sole bodies responsible for implementing these aid initiatives. They hold complete authority over fund approval and program execution, following legal and internal protocols.
Abante stated, “The Office of the Speaker firmly denies the baseless accusation that it exercises post-appropriation control over programs such as AICS, AKAP, TUPAD, and MAIP. These programs are implemented solely by executive agencies such as the DSWD, DOLE, and DOH.” She added that the Office only issues endorsement letters or referrals based on requests from lawmakers or constituents, strictly as facilitators without influence over final decisions.
Clarifying Endorsements and Fund Allocation
“Like all congressional offices, the Office of the Speaker may issue endorsements or referrals in response to constituent requests from lawmakers or local leaders. These are strictly facilitative and do not guarantee or influence approval. Final decisions rest entirely with the implementing agencies, which assess each request based on program guidelines, fund availability, and internal controls,” Abante explained.
She stressed that any claim suggesting otherwise misrepresents the law and institutional practice. The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Belgica v. Executive Secretary case prohibits legislators from exercising post-enactment discretion over public funds. The House under Speaker Romualdez fully respects this ruling, sources said.
Controversy Over Fund Requests and Service Fairs
On Monday, Rep. Tiangco alleged that lawmakers must use an online portal to request funds for specific aid programs. He also accused the 19th Congress leadership of allocating funds to lawmakers participating in the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF), a joint executive-legislative initiative bringing government services to remote communities.
Tiangco claimed, “Why do we ask for funds here […] Isn’t it that if you attend the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, you would get funds? I know that because I got funds.” He added, “Now, who among our lawmakers would contest this, let’s show our cell phones. […] There’s a message that you would receive, if you attend the BPSF, if you are there, you would have P7 million for AICS, P7 million for MAIP, P7 million for TUPAD. Isn’t that post-enactment?”
Small Committee Use During Budget Deliberations
Tiangco also criticized the use of small committees during budget discussions. He argued that House rules require committee and individual amendments before second reading approval, with no changes allowed after the third reading.
In Filipino, Tiangco questioned, “There are many things that we have to change, all the bills that we file, before we approve for second reading, don’t we have committee amendments, then individual amendments, and then approve on second reading, right? But with the budget, what is the bad practice being done there?”
He added, “They will have committee amendments then approve it by second reading, but then they will authorize a small committee to make the individual amendments. The small committee does not come up with a minutes of the meeting, it’s like giving them a blank cheque. Why don’t we follow the rules when we craft our most important bill?”
The Office of the Speaker responded that using small committees is a long-standing parliamentary practice designed to efficiently consolidate individual amendments after plenary debates. This approach has been applied in many past Congresses, including those where Tiangco held leadership roles without objection.
Abante relayed, “As to the issue of the small committee used during the budget process, this mechanism is a longstanding parliamentary practice that allows the efficient consolidation of individual amendments after plenary debates. It has been used across many Congresses, including those in which Congressman Toby Tiangco held leadership roles—and never objected to its use.” She reassured that the small committee’s output is always reported back to the full House membership.
For more news and updates on government aid programs, visit Filipinokami.com.
