Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin  (PPA POOL)

MANILA, Philippines — Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Monday stressed that budget releases now have “stricter conditionalities” and will be dispensed “transparently,” in response to the Catholic clergy’s call to go beyond an “ayuda”-driven budget.

The call was made by Fr. Tito Caluag during his homily in an online Mass last Sunday, where he echoed concerns about the 2025 national budget being loaded with billions of pesos for anti-poverty programs that might only encourage a culture of patronage politics ahead of the upcoming polls.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) also called out the “scandalous misuse of public funds and resources; the questionable insertions, cuts, and adjustments in the national budget.”

“There are now stricter conditionalities for budget releases, ensuring alignment with national priorities and protection from partisan interests.” Bersamin said in a statement.

“Having undergone adjustments permitted by law, the funds will be released transparently and in accordance with good governance principles and laws,” he added.

Bersamin also noted that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., in signing the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), “directly vetoed the largest amount of appropriations in history.”

“No President before him had ever so deeply and comprehensively purged the budget of unnecessary items,” Bersamin said.

Marcos, Bersamin pointed out, rechannelled billions in funds to programs and projects intended to serve the common good, spur progress, and promote public welfare.

“All of this stems from the recognition that financing the budget is shouldered by the people; therefore, its implementation must honor the sacrifices they have made,” he also said.

Twelve government programs, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), are subject to “conditional implementation” under the 2025 GAA.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandamann explained that items under “conditional implementation” would require issuing guidelines or compliance with relevant laws, policies, and regulations.

Last December, former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio claimed that cash assistance under AKAP “resembles the controversial pork barrel” and that “barangay officials submit the list of beneficiaries.”

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Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian refuted this, saying that AKAP is not “pork barrel” and neither are barangay officials responsible for the list of the program beneficiaries.

In a stock exchange filing on Tuesday, the Manuel Pangilinan-led company confirmed Jimenez’s appointment.

Data released on Monday by the DTI show that filings reached 873,555 in number, more than the 846rich711,714 recorded from January to September of last year.