Overseeing themselves

The two chambers of Congress have ethics committees, so it's reasonable for lawmakers to believe they can police themselves when it comes to the utilization of the ever-growing types of unconditional aid or ayuda incorporated into the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

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But lawmakers will also understand why skepticism has greeted suggestions to set up their own oversight committees in the implementation of the aid schemes, which budget watchdogs in civil society have branded as "soft pork barrel" and which President Marcos' elder sister has dubbed as "pork giniling" or ground pork.

In the first place, if lawmakers are so concerned about the possibility of abuse in the ayuda programs, they would not have doubled the amount proposed by the executive in the National Expenditure Program for the health pork barrel, the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients.