NUP decries alleged withholding of infra, social aid funds, seeks quick release

CONGRESS. The House of Representatives building at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on September 17, 2025.

Jire Carreon/Rappler

'The practice of punishing districts and communities for any opinions or votes contrary to majority positions that are expressed by their representatives should be ended,' NUP says

AT A GLANCE

• Lawmakers from the National Unity Party (NUP) are demanding the immediate release of withheld funds from the 2025 and 2026 budget, citing financial strain on congressional districts due to unimplemented DPWH projects.
• They allege that certain projects have been unfairly excluded from funding and that social assistance funds have been withheld, calling for an end to the practice of tagging projects as 'for later release.'
• The NUP also criticizes political motivations behind budget delays, urging that appropriations be released upon the effectivity of the General Appropriations Act to ensure fair treatment across districts.

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MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers from the National Unity Party (NUP) called for the immediate release to the districts of withheld funds that are supposedly still tagged “for later release” or FLR from the 2025 and 2026 budget.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 30, the House’s second largest bloc alleged that two in every five Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) have not been implemented, placing congressional districts under financial and operational strain.

“There appears to be an uneven and selective approach in the programming and continuation of DPWH projects across certain districts and provinces. A number of multi-year, previously prioritized DPWH flagship projects have reportedly been excluded from the National Expenditure Program (NEP), despite years of prior funding and physical execution,” the statement reads.

“In certain districts and provinces, projects that had been identified and funded were later declared non-implementable by the department’s district offices, without explanation,” it added.

Congressmen also claimed that allocated funds for social amelioration such as the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) of the Department of Health (DOH), have either been withheld or impounded.

“We ask for the immediate release of all AICS and MAIFIP funds allocated to the districts and sectors deprived of this assistance, including the approximately P300 million and P120 million now withheld at the central offices of DSWD and DOH,” they said.

Punishing districts because of politics?

NUP laid out numerous requests, including a call to discontinue the practice of tagging district projects as “for later release.”

“We urge that the FY 2027 GAA carry a general provision confirming that every appropriation authorized in the Act is released upon its effectivity, with the Act itself serving as the allotment release document in accordance with law and jurisprudence, and prohibiting the classification of any item as ‘for later release,’ ‘needs clearance,’ or under any similar designation not expressly provided in the Act,” the NUP said.

Lawmakers also allude to supposed delays in budget release caused by politicking.

“The practice of punishing districts and communities for any opinions or votes contrary to majority positions that are expressed by their representatives should be ended. We are, after all, a democracy,” they said.

This is not the first time NUP said something along these lines. In February, the NUP appealed to the House leadership not to go after lawmakers because of how they will vote on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. At the time, NUP said it was unlikely to back the complaint against her.

The NUP was publicly critical of Speaker Bojie Dy’s leadership earlier this year, and even floated the idea of jumping to the House minority.

Puno was upset with budget woes hounding congressional districts, including funds tagged for later release, and how the House leadership is representing the lower chamber in talks with the executive branch.

Rappler has reached out to Speaker Bojie Dy’s office and DPWH for comment, but they have yet to respond as of posting. – Rappler.com