Leviste hits exclusion of 84 Batangas barangays in aid distribution

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited Batangas on Friday for the distribution of ₱200,000 assistance to every barangay.

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste, however, said in a statement that at least 84 barangays were not invited and one barangay captain was told by the Batangas Liga ng Barangay president that they were excluded from today’s program because of politics.

“Ang kapal ng mukha ng mga politikong pinipigil ang pamimigay ng ayuda na hindi naman sarili nilang pera. Siguro naman hindi ito alam ni President Marcos, pero siya ang nasisira dito, dahil hindi tinutupad ang kanyang pangako na bawat barangay ay mabibigyan,” Leviste added.

“After we raised this issue this afternoon, the barangays were told they will now be given their ₱200,000. But the president should still ask Secretary Recto and Governor Recto why they did not include these barangays today, so this abuse of public funds will not be repeated. This is also a reason why, instead of giving more ayuda, the president should just suspend the fuel excise tax and lower the VAT.”

Leviste today filed a resolution urging the Office of the President to investigate reports of discrimination and corruption in the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” and “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” programs, to ensure the transparent, equitable, and efficient release of funds to local government units.

The resolution also cited reports of middlemen approaching local government units offering budgets from the Local Government Support Fund in exchange for commissions of up to 25%, highlighting the risk of corruption whenever there is discretion in the allocation of public funds.