House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco
THE Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has denied allegations of controlling the allocation of funds for government aid programs, asserting that implementation rests solely with executive agencies.
Responding to claims made by Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco, House spokesperson Princess Abante issued a statement clarifying that the Speaker’s office has no authority over the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) programs.
Instead, the statement emphasizes that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Health (DOH) are solely responsible for the implementation of these programs, retaining full authority over approval, funding, and implementation.
The Speaker’s office acknowledged issuing endorsement letters or referrals to address concerns from lawmakers and constituents, but these are purely facilitative and do not influence the final decisions made by the implementing agencies.
Abante stressed that these agencies assess each request based on program guidelines, fund availability, and internal controls, in full compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Belgica v. Executive Secretary, which prohibits legislators from exercising post-enactment discretion over public funds.
The statement further refutes Tiangco’s claims regarding funding linked to the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) and the use of small committees during budget deliberations, characterizing the latter as a longstanding parliamentary practice used across multiple Congresses, including those where Tiangco held leadership positions.
The office maintains that the small committee’s work is reported to the House for final approval, and it does not override the plenary’s decision-making authority.
