₱1.45 trillion in insertions, diversions: Executive branch allowed Congress to hijack Marcos’ budget for the last 3 years, says Erice

Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar “Egay” Erice blasted the Executive branch for allowing Congress to derail President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fiscal priorities by diverting or altering some ₱1.45 trillion in the Chief Executive’s budget proposals for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

In an interview on DZRH News’ special coverage of the September 21 mass protests, Erice said the three successive national budgets under Marcos were “hijacked” by lawmakers through massive insertions and diversions, which undermined the administration’s development agenda.

“Ang nangyari n’yan, from 2023 to 2025, three years budget ng ating Pangulo, pinakialaman at sinalaula ng Kongreso,” Erice said.

“Sinasabi po ng DBM (Department of Budget and Management) at ng Finance Department na Kongreso ang gumawa nito, oo nga, pero bakit patuloy na nilang ginagawa ay hinahayaan pa natin, pwede naman pong ika nga i-veto ng Presidente kung talagang binago ang kanyang mga priorities,” he stressed.

Erice said the diversions began in 2023, when over ₱300 billion was slashed from presidential priorities. In 2024, almost ₱500 billion was removed or reallocated, including critical funds for foreign-assisted projects where the government’s counterpart financing was dropped.

He added that even health programs were not spared. PhilHealth’s subsidy was reduced by ₱60 billion, while the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) lost its entire ₱107-billion allocation after it was diverted to insertions.

For 2025, Erice said another ₱373 billion was stripped from Marcos’ proposed budget, with total changes amounting to more than ₱400 billion when diversions are factored in. Combined, the three years saw ₱1.45 trillion shifted away from presidential programs.

The lawmaker warned that these diversions not only dilute the President’s policy agenda but also delay solutions to urgent problems such as healthcare, social protection, and flood control.

“Dapat vetoed ng Presidente. Ang dinadahilan nila (DBM at Finance Department), ayaw nilang magkaroon ng reenacted budget. Eh mas masahol itong nangyari kaysa isang reenacted budget,” Erice said.

“May plano ang Presidente para sa bansa natin, kaya siya ay nag-propose ng budget, kaya lang po, binago ng Kongreso,” he said.

He argued that the integrity of flagship programs is at risk when budget priorities are constantly reshaped. “Ang pondo ng Pangulo ay naging pondo ng Kongreso,” he lamented.