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National Unity Party (NUP) chairman Ronaldo Puno criticized the House leadership, stating that he and other party members are suffering from unfair budget allocations. He highlighted the lack of social amelioration funding for their districts and delays in public works projects, urging for 'leadership by example.'

Dissatisfaction with House Leadership

Ronaldo Puno, chairman and acting president of the National Unity Party (NUP), voiced his dissatisfaction with the House leadership during a press conference. He noted that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) primarily interacts with the Appropriations Committee chairman and the House Speaker. Puno revealed that his district's budget was cut by half last year, attributing it to a general perception of corruption among House of Representatives members, a situation many congressmen faced.

Unequal Budget Distribution and Delayed Social Safety Nets

Puno stated that despite budget cuts, he and other NUP members voted in favor of the budget. However, upon the release of the final budget version, they discovered that some districts, including Leyte, Manila, and Rizal, saw significant increases in their allocations, while their own remained reduced. He criticized this as a lack of 'leadership by example.' Puno also expressed concern over the delayed release of funds for social safety net programs like the DOLE TUPAD and AICS projects, which have been crucial during past crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that while these programs are free of corruption and benefit the populace, their implementation is being stalled, further compounding the difficulties faced by citizens who turn to their congressmen for help rather than to the DBM or DSWD.

*Source: YouTube: Rappler (2026-03-16)*

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