Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang questioned criticisms that its ₱500-million grant to Naga City was meant to gain political support, pointing out that Mayor Leni Robredo is not an ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Palace Press officer Claire Castro made the argument Tuesday, Sept. 22, after Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice suggested the funding could be politically motivated.
“Kasi kung sinasabi pong pamumulitika po ito, hindi po ba dapat hindi si Mayor Leni ang binigyan dahil hindi sila magkaalyado?” Castro said.
[Translation: If this were political, wouldn’t Mayor Leni have been denied the funding because they are not allies?]
Castro said the city received funding because it submitted a request that was reviewed by the Department of Budget and Management, adding that political affiliation is not a criterion in approving local government projects.
Local governments seeking support must submit their proposals and documents directly to the agency, which assesses the need for a project and whether it meets funding requirements, she said.
“Hindi porke’t ni-request ng isang LGU ay agad-agad itong maibibigay,” she said.
[Translation: A local government’s request is not automatically granted.]
Robredo said ₱450 million of the allocation will pay for the rehabilitation of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, while ₱50 million will go to disaster response equipment.
She said bidding for the coliseum project was conducted in September and construction could begin in October.
Castro described as “irresponsible” the view that the grant was purely political.
