ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio urged the Senate to make necessary corrections to the House-approved ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 by removing alleged pork barrel funds.
He called on senators to review increases in infrastructure and financial aid projects that he said came at the expense of education, health, and government workers’ benefits.
Tinio warned that replacing foreign-assisted projects with local infrastructure projects could increase government borrowing, widen the deficit, and lead to additional costs.
He also urged the Senate to address funding gaps in hospitals, schools, agriculture, and personnel benefits.
Additionally, Tinio called for a substantial increase in the Personal Economic Relief Allowance for government employees, which has remained unchanged for 17 years.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 16, 2026
