By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) prohibits politicians from taking part in the distribution of cash assistance by concerned government agencies, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo said on Saturday.
In a radio interview, Toledo said the 2026 GAA, or Republic Act (RA) No. 12314 on the P6.793 trillion national budget, contains a special provision, barring political involvement in the distribution of cash and other forms of financial assistance.
Citing Section 19 of RA 12314, he said all cash assistance and other forms of financial aid distribution will be conducted “exclusively by authorized government officers and personnel or accredited partners.”
“No public officials holding elective positions, electoral candidates, politicians, political partners, or any of their representatives, except for officials having direct administrative and executive authority over the implementing agency, shall influence, be present in, participate in, or take part in the actual distribution of any cash assistance and other forms of financial aid,” the provision read.
Toledo said the programs covered by the provision include the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s protective services for individuals and families in difficult circumstances, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program.
Similar government financial assistance programs are the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program, and the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Programs.
Toledo said the law also prohibits the display of political signage, branding, paraphernalia, or activities within the distribution area.
“So, napaka-ano po nito, kumbaga safeguard ang pagbabawal sa mga politiko o mag-issue ng pagbabawal ng pagsama ng ating mga politiko dito,” he said.
The 2026 GAA mandates the national government agencies responsible for distributing cash assistance and other forms of financial aid to establish, formulate, adopt, and enforce mandatory requirements, protocols, and reporting mechanisms to ensure strict compliance with the new policy.
It also directs the Joint Congressional Committee on Public Expenditures to monitor agencies’ compliance.
Section 20 of the 2026 GAA also forbids the display and affixing of the name, picture, image, motto, logo, color motif, initials, or other symbol or graphic representation associated with any public official, whether elected or appointed, on signboards for all government programs, activities, and projects.
