FY 2027 General Appropriations Bill Day 4 Part 1

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA): For FY2027, the MMDA proposed a national subsidy of PHP 6,560,912,000 under the General Appropriations Bill. A comparable original agency-wide request to DBM was not stated.

Department of Justice (DOJ): The DOJ and attached agencies proposed PHP 46.435 billion for FY2027, inclusive of automatic appropriations. New appropriations subject to congressional approval were PHP 43.305 billion; the sponsor compared that amount with the FY2026 level of PHP 42.820 billion. The sponsor described the increase as 1.13%, or PHP 485.028 million.

The sponsor gave this breakdown of the proposed total: Office of the Secretary, PHP 13.930 billion; Bureau of Corrections, PHP 11.932 billion; Bureau of Immigration, PHP 2.980 billion; Land Registration Authority, PHP 3.279 billion; National Bureau of Investigation, PHP 3.027 billion; Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution, PHP 138.756 million; Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, PHP 310.168 million; Office of the Solicitor General, PHP 2.142 billion; Parole and Probation Administration, PHP 1.254 billion; Philippine Commission on Good Government, PHP 338.676 million; and Public Attorney’s Office, PHP 7.101 billion. A comparable original agency-wide request to DBM was not stated.

Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED): The PCED sponsor presented the FY2027 proposal and sought support; no numeric total or request-versus-NEP comparison was stated in the source presentation.

Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost): The PHLPost sponsor presented the FY2027 proposal and sought support; no numeric total or request-versus-NEP comparison was stated in the source presentation.

Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA): For FY2027, the PRA presented proposed budgetary support of PHP 5 billion for the Philippine International Exhibition Center (PIEC). A comparable original agency-wide request to DBM was not stated.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW): The DMW presented a proposed FY2027 expenditure of PHP 10.68 billion, including its attached agency, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). A comparable original department-wide request to DBM was not stated.

Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO): The CFO presented a proposed FY2027 total of PHP 195,200,000. A comparable original agency-wide request to DBM was not stated.

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP): NCIP sponsors stated an original FY2027 request of PHP 3.608 billion and a National Expenditure Program (NEP) allocation of PHP 1.831 billion; the sponsor characterized the NEP amount as nearly half the agency's actual need.

Sponsorship and program scope: Sponsor Rep. Monique Yazmin Maria Q. Lagdameo described Metro Manila as a special development and administrative region whose interrelated urban challenges include traffic, solid-waste disposal, flood mitigation, sewerage, urban renewal, health and sanitation, and public safety. She said the MMDA coordinates and monitors medium- and long-term programs for Metro-wide services and works with the region’s 17 local governments on integrated, sustainable and resilient development strategies. The proposed programs included the Pasig River Ferry Service and roadside management.

Rep. Edgar R. Erice: Representative Edgar R. Erice said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) budget was very small and asked that it be increased during the period of amendments, without specifying an amount. He then moved to terminate consideration of the budget. Majority Leader Representative Crispin Diego D. Remulla said the majority joined the minority in moving to end interpellations on the MMDA proposal. Deputy Speaker Mercedes K. Alvarez stated the joint motion, heard no objection and approved it, initially ending interpellations; the approval was procedural and did not approve an appropriation.

Rep. Antonio L. Tinio: Representative Antonio L. Tinio of ACT Teachers raised the July 14 incident in which a video of a public-school teacher being cited for riding without a helmet was posted on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) page and drew widespread attention. Tinio distinguished the teacher’s traffic violation, which he did not contest, from posting the encounter with admonishment in a way the teacher said caused embarrassment and violated his privacy. He asked about the status of Gabriel Christian Go, then head of MMDA’s Special Operations Group Task Force for Road Clearing. Representative Alexandria “Queenie” Gonzales said Go remained an MMDA employee and was under administrative investigation connected to the incident, with a show-cause order and a resolution promised within the year. Gonzales first described him as not suspended, then clarified that he had been removed from field operations after MMDA received a letter from the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition and was monitoring clearing operations from the command center; she cited due-process protections and a five-day training, mentorship and coaching program on traffic management, courtesy, discipline, leadership, and anger and stress management. Tinio confirmed that the investigation concerned this incident and that Go was no longer in the field.

Tinio said the teacher had asked Go not to post the encounter, arguing that the request was clear in context even though it used an incomplete phrase. He said blurring the teacher’s face did not prevent identification by the school and community, and cited the National Privacy Commission and Commission on Human Rights’ position that blurring alone may not protect privacy when a person remains identifiable. Gonzales said the investigation would examine possible data-privacy violations, including the exchange between Go and the teacher. Tinio described prior public criticism of similar enforcement videos and asked MMDA to clarify its rules. Gonzales said MMDA records enforcement and traffic monitoring institutionally, while an employee’s personal posting could go beyond that practice; she said the investigation would determine whether Go crossed that line.

Tinio asked for the written social-media rule after citing public statements that personal posts about operations would be barred and that MMDA’s Public Information Office would publish operational photos and videos. Gonzales initially confused which sharing was barred, then clarified that personal posting was prohibited while institutional sharing was allowed. She promised to furnish Tinio that day with a complete copy of the regulation and Go’s show-cause order. Tinio contrasted this account with public comments by MMDA General Manager Nicolás Torre III suggesting there was no hard-and-fast restriction on personal blogging with MMDA footage. Gonzales said Torre was new and might not know the rule, and promised to remind him and employees. She also distinguished taking footage in a public place, which Chairman Artes had said was not prohibited, from posting it, and said MMDA was consulting the National Privacy Commission. Gonzales confirmed that personal vlogging of official MMDA operations was not allowed, while maintaining that institutional recording for enforcement records was established practice.

Tinio then read from an MMDA position paper responding to House Resolution No. 1370. He said the teacher had requested removal of the video and similar posts that demeaned people or violated privacy and dignity. He quoted MMDA’s categorical denial that it had authorized Go to videotape a valid clearing operation or legitimized content on the private “Dada Ku” channel. Co-sponsor Rep. Monique Yazmin Maria Q. Lagdameo agreed that MMDA had no control over that private channel. Tinio countered that the incident video remained on MMDA’s own Facebook page. Lagdameo said the related institutional post reported clearing operations but asserted that the video itself was not on the page; after Tinio asked MMDA to check its account, Lagdameo said the chairman was verifying and that the video would be taken down immediately if present. The session did not record the result of that check.

Tinio summarized the distinction as permitting institutional recording and posting but barring personal posts, while arguing that the teacher’s privacy deserved respect even where a violation had occurred. He said the teacher could still be identified despite blurring and should not have to face public humiliation to answer for a traffic offense. Lagdameo apologized on the institution’s behalf and promised measures to prevent recurrence. Tinio accepted the apology for the teacher and asked that subjects’ consent be respected when enforcement incidents are used to teach the public. Lagdameo said the suggestion would be considered and that the guidelines would again be conveyed to all employees.

Representative Antonio L. Tinio of ACT Teachers Party-list made a correction at the start of a later interpellation, referring back to his earlier exchange on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). He retracted his claim that the July 14 post about a traffic ticket issued to a teacher appeared on the MMDA website, clarifying that it appeared only on a personal blog. Tinio apologized to the Chair, Chairman Artes and the MMDA for the incorrect claim; Deputy Speaker Mercedes K. Alvarez noted the correction.

Department of Justice FY2027 proposed budget: Sponsor Rep. Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan described the DOJ as the government’s principal law agency, responsible for prosecution, criminal investigations and the correctional system, as well as government legal representation. He also cited immigration administration and free legal services for qualified citizens. He said the proposed resources would support case management and prosecution, justice-system modernization, correctional and rehabilitation programs, legal assistance, law enforcement and border security.

Rep. Presley C. De Jesus: Representative Presley C. De Jesus of PHILRECA Party-list asked Department of Justice (DOJ) sponsor Representative Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan about border modernization. De Jesus said the Bureau of Immigration's border management information system enhancement received approximately PHP 3.8 billion in 2025 but disbursed PHP 103.3 million, or 2.7 percent. Tan acknowledged that the three-phase e-gate project was delayed. Phase 1, funded under the 2024 GAA, was awarded on December 18, 2025 after a failed bidding; during rebidding, a donation of e-gates covered some planned units and required changes to the procurement process. Deployment of 47 e-gates was underway at Clark, Mactan-Cebu, Davao and Bohol-Panglao airports. Phase 2 was in procurement and phase 3 still needed technical specifications. The Bureau aimed to obligate phases 1 and 2 in 2026; the phase 3 portion without specifications would be carried over. Tan said the airports De Jesus asked about were already included in 2025 and 2026 funding, with implementation awaited and delivery expected by December 2026.

De Jesus asked whether valid court orders and legally authorized alerts reached immigration counters in real time, and how the Bureau distinguished monitoring alerts from legal restrictions on departure. Tan said an official order was encoded upon receipt. He described alert orders as commonly arising from arrest warrants or requests by other agencies, especially during investigations, while restrictions on departure could arise from other factors. De Jesus then asked how travelers could challenge mistaken identity. Tan described an internal check by immigration officers, with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or other law-enforcement clearance when identity remained unclear. He acknowledged that incomplete data could lead to mistaken holds and missed flights, and said the Bureau could issue clearance and wanted modernization to improve cross-checking.

De Jesus turned to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) custody and safekeeping program, comparing PHP 8.47 billion in 2026 with PHP 9.81 billion proposed for 2027. He cited a National Prisons congestion rate of about 250 percent in 2025 and eight infrastructure projects worth PHP 2.05 billion whose completion targets had slipped by 10 to 1,456 days. Asked how many usable spaces the 2027 allocation would add, Tan gave a target of 6,210 additional persons deprived of liberty (PDL) capacity across penal farms. He said cell capacity varied by security category: about four people in maximum-security cells, 15 in medium-security cells and 20 in minimum-security cells. Asked how the 2027 congestion target of 160 percent would be reached, Tan said BuCor projects remained underway despite delays; Tan said legal action against contractors was being considered and gave December 2026 or June 2027 target dates for several regional and maximum-security facilities.

Tan said Iwahig covered 32,000 hectares and included maximum-, medium- and minimum-security facilities; most people there were in minimum security and nearing release. De Jesus asked about prison health facilities. Tan said BuCor was struggling because the allowance was only PHP 30 per PDL per day, and the Bureau was seeking an increase to improve care for sick prisoners. De Jesus urged additional funding on human-rights grounds. Asked whether staffing, water, sanitation, health facilities, security equipment and operating expenses were funded with new buildings, Tan said they were included.

De Jesus asked about the DOJ Special Protection of Children Activities, citing a 6.9 percent disbursement rate in 2025 and asking why utilization was low. Tan attributed underspending to delays in member-agency comments and said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) paid for some partner workshops.

Asked what resources were provided in 2027 for online child sexual abuse or exploitation cases, Tan said the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and child-protection activities were seeking additional funding to at least match 2026 levels as cases became more complex and cross-border. He described an Office of the Secretary request for time-sensitive investigative, operational, intelligence and victim-protection work. De Jesus also cited a 46.9 percent 2025 disbursement rate for anti-trafficking activities. Tan cited delays in consultancy terms of reference, ICT equipment still in procurement, a scanner paid for in early 2026, representation expenses that did not proceed amid natural disasters, and trainings that did not proceed.

De Jesus asked which agencies were investigating the August 18, 2026 Zamboanga school shooting and when DOJ's National Prosecution Service or National Bureau of Investigation would become involved. Tan said the DOJ and NBI were investigating, cases had been filed against the shooter's father and the school security guard, and the department was continuing prosecution in court. De Jesus supported DOJ funding for law enforcement and urged action on online platforms after the attack was livestreamed; Tan said DOJ was coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on such incidents.

Rep. Percival "Perci" Cendaña: Rep. Percival “Perci” Cendaña asked about the status of the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s review of documents concerning Apollo Quiboloy’s extradition. Sponsor Rep. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan said the matter involved an ongoing petition and was confidential, offering to provide Cendaña’s office a copy of the report. He explained that documents from the United States Government would be evaluated against the extradition treaty; he said the volume of documents was slowing the process and that the report could be shared with Cendaña’s office while protecting ongoing DOJ activity.

When Cendaña pressed for a timeframe for major developments, Tan committed that the DOJ would have a major accomplishment on the matter this year. Cendaña said he would hold the DOJ to that commitment on Quiboloy’s extradition.

Cendaña cited a report that Harry Roque’s asylum application had been denied and asked about the consequences. Tan said that, if the report were verified, there would be no legal impediment to the Austrian government deporting the individual involved in the case; he also described that person as undocumented. Cendaña likewise framed the consequence as conditional on the denial being true and urged the DOJ to monitor the cases involving Roque and Quiboloy.

Cendaña cited the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)’s 2024 inauguration of a 120-bed hospital facility at the New Bilibid Prison compound, but questioned whether it could meet the needs of thousands of prisoners with serious illnesses. Tan agreed BuCor lacked adequate medical facilities and said it had asked the Department of Health (DOH) for facilities and dialysis machines. Tan confirmed the healthcare requests were absent from BuCor’s original budget submission; he said BuCor was asking DOH to provide facilities because it had more experience in that area. He described BuCor’s mandate as rehabilitation and reducing prison congestion, and said no interagency or bilateral body then addressed the healthcare issue.

Cendaña proposed tracking the number of sick, elderly or terminally ill prisoners needing constant hospital care. Tan said about 150 were being studied for medical parole and confirmed they were sick, elderly or terminally ill. Asked whether DOJ’s hospital and infirmary budget could prevent frequent outside referrals, Tan said it could not meet the medical needs and that funds were limited; BuCor sought treatment from willing local government hospitals.

Cendaña recalled DOJ and BuCor’s prior-year effort to expedite clemency and parole for sick and elderly prisoners, then asked about care while prisoners awaited pardon, parole or humanitarian release. Tan said an executive order was being pursued to finalize medical parole. While signatures were pending, BuCor had established a “Kanlungan ni Lolo” facility to monitor sick prisoners and was treating them within BuCor’s resources.

Pressed on the executive order, Tan said only the DOH signature remained outstanding so it could certify prisoners’ medical conditions. He said BuCor had been waiting since the previous year and could only keep following up; DOJ was not privy to the reason for the delay. Cendaña called for an interagency approach and urged the new DOH leadership to act on the urgent matter.

Cendaña asked how indigent prisoners would receive equal, prompt access to medical interventions and whether access depended on private doctors. Tan described coordination with hospitals willing to admit prisoners, naming East Avenue Medical Center and local government hospitals; he said facilities were sometimes full but BuCor worked to arrange care.

Cendaña then asked what safeguards would prevent abuse of medical release, pointing to public concern about high-profile officials facing plunder cases. Tan’s response concerned accused persons in the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP): he said the DOJ described a process involving a BJMP medical examiner who certifies their health status. Cendaña clarified he meant earlier cases, then argued that medical recognizance should use the same criteria for every prisoner—actual medical condition, applicable law, human rights and due process—with no special treatment or “VIP lane.” Tan said they would comply with Cendaña’s requests, without detailing safeguards for the past cases he raised.

Rep. Edgar R. Erice: Representative Edgar R. Erice asked Department of Justice (DOJ) sponsor Representative Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan about the Bureau of Immigration (BI) biometric e-gate project. Erice said government spending on e-gate purchases, including cameras, over the preceding four years was nearly PHP 4 billion.

Tan stated the phase amounts: PHP 1,528,869,957 for Phase 1, PHP 1,347,057,000 for Phase 2, and PHP 536,072,000 for Phase 3. He said Phase 1 covered e-gates, CCTV and facial-recognition monitoring and comprised 47 gates distributed across Clark International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Davao International Airport and Bohol-Panglao International Airport. Tan said the Phase 2 gates were for Cebu and Tawi-Tawi. He said Phase 2 had not yet gone to bid, its technical specifications were incomplete and equipment price changes could require revisions. Phase 3 was still in technical specification; its locations would be decided after Phase 2 and BI's assessment of need.

Erice questioned why funding was arranged before the units' needs and locations were settled. Tan said the Phase 1 locations were established, while BI was still obtaining the Phase 2 quantity and location breakdown and had not yet defined Phase 3. Erice asked BI to submit procurement details before Friday, the end of plenary debate, and Tan agreed.

Erice compared the BI procurement with e-gates at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3. Tan initially said about 23 gates had been supplied by New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC). Erice said there were 78 biometric immigration e-gates at the two terminals, funded by the concessionaire, and later Tan confirmed a total of 78 gates supplied by NNIC. Erice cited PHP 6.8 billion as the overall Terminal 1 and 3 airport modernization plan and offered his rough comparison that BI's cost for 47 gates approached PHP 3 billion, and separately estimated about PHP 32 million per gate. These were Erice's comparisons and ballpark calculation. Tan said the comparison was not like-for-like: BI did not know NNIC's e-gate price, and BI's estimates came from its technical specifications and market scoping. Tan agreed to provide BI's per-gate cost breakdown before Friday. Erice said he would request the concessionaire's e-gate costs to compare them.

Erice asked about the unsolicited Securiport public-private partnership (PPP) proposal. Tan said contract review was continuing with the PPP Center, the Department of Finance and the Office of the Solicitor General. Erice requested the terms of reference, bid and Swiss Challenge documents, and written answers to his questionnaire before Friday. Tan said the Bureau of Immigration would comply before Friday.

Rep. Renee Louise M. Co: Representative Renee Louise M. Co of Kabataan Party-list asked Department of Justice (DOJ) sponsor Representative Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan about the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) plan to transfer persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to penal colonies. Tan said the mass-transfer master plan runs through 2028 and is intended to guide destinations and decongestion. He described an NBP goal of reducing its population from 30,000 to 20,000. Co asked for the master plan, timeline and the data for admissions and releases over the preceding five years; Tan agreed to provide it. He also gave the current nationwide BuCor PDL population as 52,356 as of July 31, 2026, and cited varying annual flows: 10,529 released and 9,948 admitted in 2025, and 4,979 released and 4,549 admitted in the first half of 2026.

Co asked for assurances that transfers would place PDLs as close as possible to their families and that families, lawyers and people assisting their cases would be notified before a transfer, so no one would be surprised by a changed location. Tan said BuCor would place people near family where possible and notify families and lawyers if a transfer proceeded.

Co pointed to PHP 519 million in DOJ capital outlay for BuCor and asked how much was for construction or rehabilitation of penal colonies and correctional facilities outside Metro Manila. Tan said roughly PHP 474 million was allocated to build a new BuCor facility in Nueva Ecija.

Co confirmed it had not yet been built; Tan said construction was still ahead and hoped work would begin the following year. Co emphasized that the new facility and services should meet standards and asked for the planned facilities list by the following week. Tan agreed.

Co asked about the DOJ Task Force on Anti-Terrorism and BI agents wearing vests labeled Anti-Terror Task Force. Tan initially said there was no special DOJ anti-terrorism task force and described DOJ as a regular member of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC); he then clarified that a regular group of DOJ prosecutors investigates and prosecutes anti-terrorism cases. Tan described the Bureau of Immigration (BI) as a supporting agency in the Anti-Terror Task Force, which he said explained the agents' vests. He distinguished the prosecutors' regular DOJ group from special task forces created by law.

Co asked for the task force's legal basis, mandate and scope, and whether BI or other agencies participate. Tan said a DOJ department order established the group and promised to provide it. He said coordination with other law-enforcement and intelligence agencies occurs through the ATC; DOJ joins ATC technical working groups (TWGs) when formed, particularly when legal issues are involved. He said an inter-agency anti-terrorism task force may operate through the ATC rather than within DOJ, depending on the matter. Co requested records or a list of DOJ's ATC-related TWGs and their scope; Tan agreed. Co said the relationship between the DOJ prosecutors' group, BI's supporting role and ATC inter-agency coordination still raised possible overlap and accountability questions, including concerns about cases that are later dismissed and harms to affected people.

Co asked how many complaints in 2025 involved the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and how they were resolved. Tan first said six complaints had been resolved, then said his information showed four remained pending and two had been dismissed. He agreed to retrieve the disposition details and provide them. Co requested a further case-status update the following week, and Tan agreed.

Co asked whether the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) had a memorandum of agreement with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to provide legal services in matters handled by the task force. Tan said there was no formal MOA, but PAO lawyers could be called when legal aid was needed in a case. Co said she would continue monitoring how the DOJ agencies implemented the law. She cited her concern that anti-terrorism laws had been used to bring trumped-up charges against people and organizations that later ended in dismissals, while affected people suffered losses to life, assets and reputation.

Rep. Roberto Nazal: Rep. Roberto Nazal began with the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), noting its 100% obligation and disbursement rates in 2025 but a public-attorney-to-court ratio of 1:2 against a 1:1 target. He argued that the unmet need justified additional funding and asked how many lawyers and how much funding would move PAO toward the target. Sponsor Rep. Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan first described 559 public-attorney positions and about 400 support-staff positions as needed to reach the ratio. He said deployment would depend on local need, new courts, and PAO's added legal-assistance work for seafarers.

Asked for a cost, Tan called the estimate a conservative PHP 500 million, then described 224 PAO positions and 400 support staff and referred to a "762 million amount." The source does not reconcile this with his earlier 559-attorney figure. Nazal asked whether reported non-tax revenues could fund PAO; the initial table figure is unclear in the transcript. Tan said winning fees from civil and labor cases amounted to about PHP 700 million and had been remitted to the Treasury, so PAO could not simply use them. He later said winning fees could support additional allowances, while creating PAO positions still required a DBM request.

Tan said 87 positions created in 2024 would receive funding in 2027, described a gap between position creation and funding, and said there was no target date for a 1:1 ratio because new courts keep being created. The department's wish list was 500-plus PAO lawyers and 400-plus support staff. When Nazal asked if the amount could be absorbed, Tan's response is transcribed as "700 plus billion" and he said yes; the source does not clarify currency or relation to the earlier estimates. Nazal urged Congress to fund the added PAO positions.

Nazal asked what was slowing case resolution. Tan said DOJ needed more prosecutors and had requested positions from DBM; approvals were staggered, and some appointments required presidential action. He said appointments that had taken about a year were now taking roughly four to six months.

Nazal cited a projection of 7,140 unfilled DOJ positions in 2027, including 1,740 in the Office of the Secretary, and asked how many vacancies were budget-related versus awaiting appointment. Tan said 203 prosecutorial positions were awaiting appointment and identified additional prosecutor positions of 237 in 2026, 227 in 2027, and 237 in 2028. He separately said 866 prosecutor posts remained unfilled within the 7,140 vacancies; when Nazal cited 237 expected to be filled by 2027, Tan corrected this to 227 and agreed the remaining shortage was largely budgetary.

Nazal cited approximately PHP 15.3 billion in accumulated earmarked revenue balances as of December 31, 2025 and asked whether they could address DOJ funding gaps. Tan said DOJ could not freely use these funds because attached agencies had spending restrictions. Nazal then cited PHP 17.381 billion in 2025 non-tax collections; Tan said those revenues also had limitations and were intended for the Victims' Compensation Program, an off-budget account for awards to victims of unjust imprisonment or detention.

The figures remained in conflict. Tan cited actual 2025 income as 17,810,728 (the currency unit was not stated in that answer), while Nazal cited a table showing PHP 187.937 million in receipts and reported expenditures of 19.3 (unit not stated in that turn). The exchange did not reconcile the different totals or scope, including whether attached agencies were included.

Tan said compensation depended on claims and described the statutory amount inconsistently: the turns variously refer to PHP 1,000 per month, PHP 10,000 per month, and a one-time PHP 10,000. He said the program needed updating; Tan placed the law at 1992 and described it as 34 years old. Nazal said the law should be updated, and Tan offered to work with his office.

Nazal asked whether BuCor had data on overstaying prisoners. Tan said there were no overstayers and that everyone due for release had been released, according to DOJ and BuCor; when Nazal requested a report showing who had overstayed and when they were released, Tan agreed to submit the data.

Nazal said BuCor's authorized uniformed positions rose from 9,133 in 2025 to 11,133 in 2027, while staffing summaries showed 8,464 positions shown in the staffing summary. Tan attributed the gap mainly to DBM-approved restructuring, including 1,000 new correction-officer positions. BuCor had requested approval of three-year qualification standards for correction officers, still under Civil Service Commission review; other vacancies were being addressed through recruitment and appointments.

Nazal cited 33.9% of 404,124 decided cases in 2025 as dismissed by trial courts and asked about causes and reforms. Tan said there were several causes and committed to applying a "reasonable certainty of conviction" standard, with prosecutors working with law-enforcement agencies to prepare evidence before filing. Nazal said available data suggested many dismissals involved insufficient evidence or weakly prepared cases. Tan said conviction rates were high and that there was no international standard for conviction.

Nazal asked DOJ and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to clarify departure rules after reports that some barangay kagawads were required to carry a DILG travel authority while apparently similar travelers were not. Tan relayed the BI's position that the DILG authority was still required under a DILG memorandum circular. Nazal asked for the legal basis and circumstances, then described inconsistent treatment he had experienced when traveling with his 12-year-old son: an immigration officer had requested DSWD authorization despite his understanding that a child traveling with a biological parent was exempt. He urged one uniform set of requirements, officer briefings, and public guidance.

Tan said BI was willing to follow uniform guidelines and wanted more officer training and modernization of the immigration law, which he said dated from the 1940s and had not been updated. Nazal also requested a written DOJ and attached-agency Gender and Development utilization report; Tan agreed to comply. In closing, Nazal asked that any resource needs, including personnel, technology, regional funding, or access to legally earmarked revenues, be clearly placed on record for Congress to consider.

Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago: Representative Sarah Jane I. Elago of Gabriela Women's Party asked Department of Justice (DOJ) sponsor Representative Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan about the cashless system and missing funds in the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) Trust Fund. She cited the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) guidelines requiring weekly, monthly, semiannual and annual reports from the payment provider through prison officials. Tan said those reports had not been submitted because the cashless system was not fully implemented or digitized at CIW. Elago emphasized that the guidelines were clear even though the system was already operating there. Tan said BuCor had since tightened its audits and was enforcing the weekly and monthly reporting requirements.

Elago said reported estimates had varied, and asked for the final missing balance. Tan first said the figure was not final and that a second investigation would reconcile BuCor's records; he later gave PHP 6,230,390.44 as the total missing balance and said BuCor had a breakdown of the affected accounts. When Elago asked how much of that total was unaccounted for, separate from amounts reported as spent, Tan referred to the entire PHP 6,230,390.44 as missing and did not provide a distinct unaccounted amount. He said the discrepancy involved multiple factors, including recording and handling by trust-fund officers, and that cases had been pursued against individuals involved in mismanagement.

Elago said PDLs had previously been able to withdraw three times weekly, up to PHP 1,000 per withdrawal and PHP 2,000 total per week, but reported that access had become erratic after the disclosure. Tan said withdrawals were still operating but limited to once or twice a week; BuCor was working to restore the standard system and guaranteed that it would do so that week. Asked when the missing money could be restored, Tan said BuCor had about PHP 6 million in unclaimed confiscated funds and was studying whether it could legally be used to reimburse the shortfall.

Elago relayed the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) account that its staff had tried three times to visit CIW for an independent investigation into the missing trust-fund money but had not been admitted. Tan said BuCor reported that CHR staff arrived in the afternoon, when PDL schedules were being observed, and that the agency was willing to cooperate, including with unannounced visits. Elago questioned whether CHR investigators could be turned away during an inquiry into possible rights violations.

Elago read BuCor's letter citing the Data Privacy Act and the 2024 BuCor Manual as requiring the names of PDLs to be interviewed and their consent, and asked for the specific provisions. Tan said PDL consent was part of the interview protocol and cited visiting hours of Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. He clarified that CHR did not need permission to investigate, but said close coordination was needed to address security concerns. Elago urged stronger coordination and review of the cashless-system rules, with a temporary return to the previous withdrawal system during the investigation. Tan said BuCor was committed to reviewing the policy, welcomed suggestions, and would coordinate with CHR and audit whether similar incidents occurred at other facilities.

Elago asked how many child-support cases the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) handled and whether its assistance covered cross-border child and family-maintenance claims. Tan said PAO had no separate child-support count; the information was grouped with other cases and was not broken down by international child-support matters. Elago said she would initiate a dialogue with PAO and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which she identified as the Central Authority, to improve implementation of the family-maintenance convention and requested updated reports. She noted that child and spousal support were recurring needs among survivors in the national review of violence against women and children.

Elago asked about the status of the PHP 90 million allocated in 2024 for an agricultural camp for children in conflict with the law. Tan said construction was ongoing, DSWD was the lead implementing agency with funding from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the camp would be turned over to BuCor when complete.

Elago raised concern that placing the camp within Iwahig Penal Farm could stigmatize children who should be rehabilitated rather than treated as prisoners. She said DSWD had explained that the land area was large, but she remained concerned about the facility's association with Iwahig and the distance families and friends might have to travel, which could disrupt children's support systems. She urged attention to implementation gaps in the juvenile-justice law and called for an ocular inspection with Congress and child-rights advocates to ensure the camp was genuinely child-friendly. Tan welcomed the proposal.

Rep. Antonio L. Tinio: Rep. Antonio L. Tinio compared DOJ-wide confidential-fund figures across NEP proposals, enacted GAAs, and reported use. He cited PHP 259 million in appropriations in 2016; for 2023, a PHP 383 million NEP proposal, a PHP 722 million GAA after a congressional institutional amendment, and PHP 700 million used; for 2025, a PHP 579 million NEP proposal and PHP 1.91 billion in the GAA, which he said appeared mostly spent; for 2026, a PHP 579 million proposal and a PHP 1.07 billion enacted amount; and for 2027, a PHP 579 million NEP proposal. He also described a DOJ-wide total of PHP 4.93 billion for 2016-2027, including the 2027 proposal. Tinio said actual 2022 use exceeded appropriations and suggested it may have been augmented from savings, without giving an amount.

Tinio asked whether DOJ had requested an increase for 2027. Tan said the Department initially sought to keep OSEC proper at the 2026 level of PHP 214 million. He later confirmed an additional PHP 180 million confidential-funds request. The exchange does not reconcile how these requests fit together, and no approval of the PHP 180 million addition is recorded here. Tan said confidential funds supported investigative and prosecutorial work, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and other confidential law-enforcement operations.

For the FY2026 enacted confidential-fund allocation under the Office of the Secretary (OSEC), Tan confirmed Tinio's PHP 730 million total and gave this breakdown: OSEC proper, PHP 214,471,000; Witness Protection Program, PHP 500 million; Interagency Council Against Trafficking, PHP 10 million; Office of Cybercrime, PHP 475,000; and a further PHP 5 million item whose office label is unclear in the transcript. Asked whether the confidential component comprised the whole Witness Protection Program budget, Tan said it was only that portion and initially gave PHP 625,633,000 excluding confidential expenses, without specifying the fiscal year in that answer. Tinio inferred a PHP 1 billion total. Tan then clarified that the FY2026 budget was PHP 626,193,000 inclusive of the PHP 500 million confidential component. Tinio described PHP 126 million as the non-confidential portion and Tan agreed. This clarification superseded the earlier tentative PHP 1 billion total.

Tan said Witness Protection Program expenses, including safe houses, witness benefits, livelihood, protection, and counseling, were charged to its confidential-expenses portion. Tinio accepted the need to protect witness identities and locations but questioned whether livelihood qualified under the COA-DBM confidential-expenses guidelines. Tan cited sections 7 and 8 of the Witness Protection law as a basis for livelihood assistance; Tinio replied that a statutory benefit did not establish that confidential funds could pay for it and asked DOJ to review the practice. Tan also said standard procurement could expose witness identities; Tinio argued that identities could be withheld or information classified while still disclosing how funds were used.

Tinio asked about the GAA requirement for quarterly accomplishment reports to the President and both Houses, and whether DOJ could share those reports publicly because they describe accomplishments rather than itemized spending. Tan said DOJ submits quarterly reports to the President and House but would not disclose them publicly to protect witnesses. When Tinio asked more broadly about public reporting of results, Tan said disclosure could affect other investigations. Tinio said the responses informed his position that the growth and use of confidential funds raised transparency concerns.

Tinio turned to the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), describing its mandate as recovery of Marcos ill-gotten wealth. He asked about Civil Case No. 0141, filed in 1991 to recover properties, and cited partial recoveries that included Swiss bank deposits worth USD 658 million, Arelma accounts, jewelry, and paintings. Tinio said the case had recently been dismissed after PCGG stated it would no longer present evidence. Tan's account of PCGG's court manifestation was inconsistent: he first said PCGG had indicated it would still present evidence, then said it would present none. Asked how much remained unrecovered in Case 0141, Tan said DOJ would obtain the exact figure and provide it to Tinio; it was not supplied in this exchange.

Tinio cited 67 pending PCGG recovery cases: 34 before the Sandiganbayan or lower courts, 31 on appeal before the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, and 2 in foreign courts. He attributed a total value of 76.773 billion to the pending ill-gotten-wealth claims. Tan confirmed that 67 cases remained pending but did not expressly confirm the monetary valuation. Tinio asked whether seven dismissed corruption charges against Imelda Marcos should be subtracted; Tan said they were not included in the 67.

Tinio also described PCGG wins involving Malacanang of the North, a 576,000-square-meter property, and the Payanig sa Pasig property, saying court rulings placed them under government ownership. He valued the properties at about 50 billion, without stating a currency in that turn, and later said about 76 billion remained to be pursued. These valuations were Tinio's statements in this exchange, not amounts confirmed by Tan.

PCED budget sponsorship: Appropriations Vice Chair Representative Ma. Isabel L. Sagarbarria asked the House to support the proposed FY2027 budget of the Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED).

PHLPost budget sponsorship: Appropriations Vice Chair Representative Ma. Isabel L. Sagarbarria asked the House to support the proposed FY2027 budget of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) and said she was ready to answer questions.

Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA): Sponsor Rep. Josefina B. Tallado, Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, described PRA's mandate to regulate and undertake reclamation, pursue infrastructure development, and manage public estates in the national interest. The PIEC was presented as a flagship infrastructure project to expand the country's capacity to host international meetings, conventions and exhibitions, support tourism and related industries, and increase the productive use and value of government-owned properties in the area.

Rep. Presley C. De Jesus: Representative Presley C. De Jesus asked Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) sponsor Representative Josefina B. Tallado why the proposed PHP 5 billion FY 2027 support for the Philippine International Exhibition Center (PIEC) was being routed through PRA when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would implement the project for the Office of the President. Tallado said the first two Special Allotment Release Orders had come from the Office of the President; PRA was seeking the current funds through its own budget, while a memorandum of agreement assigned implementation to DPWH because it had greater project-delivery expertise. She said the National Government would pay the project cost and PRA would contribute the land. PRA would manage the government asset and project, while DPWH would handle procurement, design and construction. After completion, PRA would operate the PIEC and its revenue would add to PRA dividends paid to government.

Tallado said NEDA had evaluated total net economic benefits of PHP 1.33 trillion and total net financial benefits of PHP 377.7 billion, each over 50 years under conservative assumptions. Asked whether government would recover its PHP 5 billion contribution before revenues were retained or distributed, she answered yes. In discussing benefits, she named the Bureau of Internal Revenue, jobs and businesses around hotels, convention income and tourism.

Tallado confirmed the PIEC's total cost as PHP 27 billion and said completion was expected in April 2028. She described PHP 5 billion for phase 1 and a further PHP 10 billion for phase 2 construction; she said inflation had been factored into the project cost. No additional appropriation was adopted in this exchange.

De Jesus asked what climate and geotechnical standards were used for the PIEC and its reclaimed Manila Bay site, citing exposure to typhoons, storm surge, sea-level rise, subsidence, liquefaction and flooding. Tallado said the design included climate-risk assessment, flood protection with the structure elevated above applicable base-flood levels and flood barriers, and heat measures such as natural ventilation, shading, reflective roofing and urban greening. She confirmed that an independent agency had surveyed the site.

Tallado said phase 1's contractor was EEI and phase 2 had not been bid pending funding. Asked who would maintain the facility and pay for future upkeep, Tallado said PRA would remain responsible and said it had technical staff, referring to reclamation work dating to 1973 and the absence of reported incidents.

De Jesus asked for the status of projects covered by the Manila Bay reclamation suspension. Tallado said the President ordered all Manila Bay reclamation projects and activities suspended on August 4, 2023 while proponents' compliance with laws, environmental requirements and a cumulative impact assessment were reviewed. Four suspensions had been lifted and ten remained in place; she confirmed that four projects were ongoing.

Tallado reported that phase 1 of the cumulative impact assessment was complete, with other work ongoing through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Marine Environmental and Resources Foundation. She said phase 1 results were discussed in December 2025 and that meetings with project proponents in March 2026 addressed incorporating the findings and recommendations into environmental compliance certificate conditions. Asked what could happen if significant cumulative impacts could not be adequately mitigated, she said projects could be required to add mitigation, change configuration or scope, or amend environmental conditions before proceeding.

Rep. Percival "Perci" Cendaña: Rep. Percival "Perci" Cendaña asked what safeguards the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) required after a dust cloud affected Pasay and nearby commuters, students, workers, and residents. Sponsor Rep. Josefina B. Tallado attributed the August 26, 2026 haze to strong winds associated with an approaching thunderstorm and the southwest monsoon lifting loose sand and sediment near Manila Bay reclamation sites.

She said the PRA had recommended continuous water spraying with water trucks or cannons and dust screens. When Cendaña asked who inspected sites and how often, Tallado said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its Environmental Management Bureau inspected construction sites, with daily site inspections and regular multi-party monitoring. Cendaña sought assurance against recurrence in populated areas; Tallado assured him it would not happen again.

Cendaña confirmed Tallado's account that four Manila Bay reclamation projects had had their suspensions lifted while ten remained suspended. Tallado said the ten could not resume until they submitted Department of Environment and Natural Resources requirements and cumulative-impact results were available. She named the four projects as Manila Waterfront City, Pasay SM Reclamation Project, Pasay Harbor City, and Bacoor City’s 90-hectare inner island, and identified their proponents in the exchange. She gave no timeline for the ten suspended projects: completion depended on applicants meeting requirements, and an environmental compliance certificate had a five-year life, after which an extension could be sought.

Cendaña connected reclamation and dredging to community concerns about worsening floods in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Tallado said projects were required to undergo hydrodynamic modeling and flooding and hydraulic studies commissioned from the University of the Philippines by the proponents. Cendaña said PRA should exercise due diligence in reviewing the studies’ effects and called for integrated flood management with local governments around Manila Bay.

Cendaña asked how reclaimed areas would be protected from storm surges. Tallado said seawalls had increased from 3 meters to 7 meters, with each project proponent responsible for construction costs under the project. She said compliance was ongoing and monitored. Cendaña requested a PRA report on proponents’ coastal-defense compliance, and Tallado agreed.

In closing, Cendaña cited 13 approved Manila Bay reclamation projects and estimated their area at around 5,000 hectares, about 8% of the National Capital Region’s land area. He presented the estimate as a concern about flood impacts, calling for comprehensive mitigation, community flood-impact assessment, proper drainage, and coordination with surrounding local governments.

Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago: Representative Sarah Jane I. Elago said the Philippine Reclamation Authority's (PRA) entire FY2027 PHP 5 billion budget was allocated to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for the Philippine International Exhibition Center on the 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City site. She referred to two Manila Bay projects: the 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City Reclamation Project and the 360-hectare Pasay Reclamation Project. Elago cited a PRA statement that, after a review with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the projects met conditions for their environmental compliance certificates and area clearances.

Elago asked why the projects were continuing given concerns about Manila Bay's cumulative impacts on fishing livelihoods, water circulation, traffic and flooding. Sponsor Representative Josefina B. Tallado said the 265-hectare project resumed in 2023 after a DENR compliance review confirmed its environmental certificates, area clearance and PRA requirements. She said it remained subject to continuing monitoring and the results of the cumulative impact assessment. For the 360-hectare Pasay project, Tallado said the design was changed to widen the channel between the mainland and reclaimed island: the initial design had a 300-meter channel, expanded to approximately 476 meters to address hydrodynamic and flooding concerns. She added that part of the former reclamation near the former Sofitel Hotel had to be removed or rehandled to create the wider channel.

Elago said she had not seen an adequate program to address the effects of reclamation on fishers' livelihoods across Manila Bay. She attributed to Pamalakaya a claim that fishers had lost over 80% of their daily income because reclamation damaged fishing grounds and habitats, including mangroves, coral areas and seagrasses. She also cited Oceana's concern that reclamation obstructed natural water flows toward the sea.

Elago urged the House to consider proposed resolutions to investigate the reclamation projects and House Bill No. 6270, which would declare Manila Bay a reclamation-free zone and set strict standards to protect marine resources. These were legislative proposals; no adoption or disposition is recorded in this exchange.

Rep. Edgar R. Erice: Representative Edgar R. Erice asked whether the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) had issued any permit, approval, clearance or other authority for reclamation in Laguna de Bay. Sponsor Josefina B. Tallado said it had not. Erice asked the same about the Pasig River, and Tallado again said no permits or other authority had been issued.

Erice then asked whether Manila Bay reclamation projects had a combined environmental impact assessment (the cumulative impact assessment, or CIA). Tallado confirmed one existed and promised to provide a copy before the PRA delegation left.

Rep. Roberto Nazal: Representative Roberto Nazal (BH Party-list) asked the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to quantify the government value and cash revenues from ongoing and approved reclamation projects, expected National Treasury remittances, and a project-by-project revenue timeline. He cited PRA-reported 2025 net income of PHP 5 billion and assets of almost PHP 210 billion. Sponsor Representative Josefina B. Tallado reported taxes remitted over the preceding five years of PHP 3,569,376,346.72 and separately stated that total PRA remittances were PHP 9.9 billion. The dividend amount is unclear in the transcript.

For projections, Tallado gave projected income-statement figures of PHP 2 billion for 2026 and PHP 1.9 billion for 2027, distinct from projected operating expenses of PHP 1.9 billion in 2026 and PHP 1.8 billion in 2027. She described income sources as reclamation regulatory, supervision, fines and penalties, and extraction fees; recurring business income included leases of PRA properties, a share of Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway revenue, and land sales. The exchange did not provide the requested project-by-project 2027-onward revenue schedule.

Nazal asked whether PRA measures public revenue forgone when reclamation projects are delayed, suspended, or placed under policy review. Tallado first said PRA had no lost revenue, then identified the lost government share as 51% of land. Nazal said the potential public loss could also include land-value appreciation, taxes, and development activity, and pressed for an estimate. Tallado acknowledged substantial losses but said PRA had not yet calculated the amount and would provide it later. Nazal urged monitoring the effects of changing policy on investors and projects.

Nazal proposed early informational briefings for relevant House and Senate committees on major projects, investments, projected government revenues, safeguards, timelines, and approvals, clarifying that Congress should not become another approval body. Tallado said PRA was ready to cooperate if discussions were arranged. Nazal also sought clear processing targets and identification of permitting bottlenecks. Tallado said applicants first approach the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and that the Office of the President required PRA to streamline its permitting process; she noted the process depended on Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) compliance. Nazal proposed reporting the bottlenecks so Congress could consider policy assistance, and Tallado noted the proposal.

On taxpayer support, Tallado called PRA self-liquidating and said it did not hold funds for infrastructure. Asked whether PRA needed national budget support, she answered that it did, adding that without support for the project under discussion PRA lacked the means to continue and complete it. Nazal expressed support for government assistance needed to implement PRA projects.

Department of Migrant Workers presentation: Sponsor Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad said the DMW serves more than 2.2 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). She cited their US$35.63 billion in remittances in 2025, equal to 8% of national GDP, as context for the government's obligation to protect their rights and welfare. The remittances were not presented as agency funding.

She listed legal, medical and other help through the Aksyon Fund; repatriation assistance through OWWA's Emergency Repatriation Fund; specialized care at the OFW Hospital; reintegration services; anti-illegal recruitment and anti-trafficking operations; and maritime research and skills services.

Rep. Presley C. De Jesus: Representative Presley C. De Jesus asked why the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Emergency Repatriation Fund (ERF) was reduced in the fiscal year 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) from PHP 1.2 billion to PHP 900 million, which he described as a decrease of about PHP 308 million. He compared this with reported fiscal year 2026 utilization of PHP 1.7 billion, comprising a PHP 1.2 billion General Appropriations Act allocation and a PHP 700 million supplemental release, which served more than 139,000 distressed overseas Filipino workers. The exchange did not reconcile those component amounts with the reported utilization.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) sponsor Representative Irene G. Labadlabad said OWWA had requested an additional PHP 575 million for the ERF. Asked about supplemental funding and contingencies, she cited a PHP 700 million supplemental release for OWWA in 2026 and a separate PHP 3 billion additional allocation for the Action Fund, then answered that the funding had been sufficient. She did not describe a forward-looking process or timeline for securing additional funds if the 2027 ERF proved insufficient.

De Jesus cited reports from a House budget hearing that distressed returning workers faced three-to-six-month delays in receiving financial assistance under Department Order No. 02, 2025, and asked about causes and a target processing time. Labadlabad attributed some delays to Middle East tensions requiring on-the-ground response and said disbursement was ongoing after supplemental funding; she gave no processing-time commitment.

De Jesus cited the 2025 Commission on Audit (COA) report's PHP 163.2 million in missing receipts, along with improperly completed recommendation reports, deficient supporting documents, and grants to ineligible beneficiaries. Asked about eligibility and medical-assessment controls, Labadlabad said compliance was underway and that the Action Fund Information System had made proper disbursement of assistance easier.

De Jesus raised a reported structural assessment that the OWWA central office met only 10% of the minimum seismic-compliance standard and asked why the fiscal year 2027 NEP included no capital allocation for retrofit or relocation. Labadlabad said OWWA had requested an additional PHP 353 million in general administration and support funding to address the concerns. She reported that staff had been temporarily transferred while OWWA and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) pursued further building assessment requirements. No retrofit or relocation schedule was given.

De Jesus questioned the funding for a proposed increase in individual livelihood assistance from PHP 10,000 through PHP 15,000 to PHP 20,000 per returning worker, with 51,000 beneficiaries targeted. He estimated the need at approximately PHP 1.02 billion against a PHP 309 million fiscal year 2027 proposal and asked how many workers could be served. Labadlabad agreed with the concern and said DMW had requested an additional PHP 300 million for reintegration programs; at the current funding level, she said only 10,000 beneficiaries could be served. De Jesus appealed to the appropriations committee to increase livelihood funding, but this exchange records no adoption or other disposition.

Rep. Roberto Nazal: Rep. Roberto Nazal reiterated that the Emergency Repatriation Fund should be protected for crisis and routine returns, including transportation, medical, psychosocial, and other assistance. He asked whether Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) had reduced its earlier PHP 8.5 billion proposal to the NEP to a revised PHP 2 billion package that represented the minimum for urgent, implementation-ready needs. OWWA sponsor Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad confirmed the revised amount was the absolute minimum and said the agency hoped it could be secured; she did not say it had been approved.

Nazal asked how the additional PHP 353.19 million OWWA request would cover its information-systems plan, office rentals and new overseas welfare offices, job-order compensation adjustments, and a Negros Island regional welfare office. Labadlabad said these items were included and additional funding was needed to update job-order rates from 2023 levels.

Nazal asked about the PHP 433.8 million Alagang OWWA request and which welfare facilities would open in 2027. Labadlabad said the NCR seafarers welfare center was open, Iloilo was next, and the agency planned Cagayan and Davao the following year, followed by Pangasinan and Cebu. She identified PHP 83.8 million as the minimum needed for facilities and estimated they could serve about 500,000 seafarer deployments per year.

Nazal asked whether the PHP 130 million request was the minimum for legal, medical, and health retainers. Labadlabad outlined plans for ten additional medical retainers across priority posts, while existing coverage was in Dubai and agreements were in place with Jordan and Qatar. She said retainers allow prompt referral and care; without them, service could be delayed. She reported 32 legal retainers and 13 in-house lawyers, with 11 more needed for 43 posts.

Nazal asked whether plans, sites, procurement documents, and schedules were ready for the cited 447.99 capital-outlay request. Labadlabad said plans were approved and land was available specifically for Region V, but funding was still needed and work had not begun. She said implementation in 2027 was possible if funded. The amount-bearing turn does not supply a unit, so the amount is retained as stated.

Nazal said the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program had PHP 23.7 million remaining from its original PHP 200 million seed fund and asked about a requested PHP 60 million replenishment to support 1,000 new scholars beginning in academic year 2027-2028. Labadlabad said the program had last been funded 31 years earlier. She described eligibility as children of overseas Filipino workers in science and technology courses who pass the assessment; each scholarship provides PHP 60,000 per year. Nazal supported regular funding, and Labadlabad welcomed the support.

Nazal asked what gap the additional PHP 1 billion for the Aksyon Fund would address. Labadlabad said it could benefit at least 20,000 OFWs through legal, financial, or medical services, with a 30-day disbursement target subject to fund availability, and said the department was committed to that target.

She said the Aksyon Fund Information System recommended by the Commission on Audit was being implemented and guidelines would be amended to address audit findings. The system was digitalized. Asked about artificial intelligence, she said it could be a useful tool for safeguards and duplicate-claim verification; she did not say AI was already in use.

Nazal listed separate 2027 Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) requests: PHP 60 million for the OFW Servicio Caravan, PHP 60 million for International Labor Affairs, PHP 180 million for General Administration and Support Services, and PHP 700 million for Key Services. Labadlabad said the requests were implementation-ready and caravan services could reach up to 100,000 OFWs through 20 government agencies. These requests were not recorded as approved.

Nazal asked about the FY2026 verification-fee fund request and releases. Labadlabad first gave PHP 826 million requested and PHP 777 million received, then described around PHP 580 million as fully utilized for FY2026. She attributed the gap to DBM ceilings. Nazal argued that full utilization supported another request, while Labadlabad subsequently identified PHP 777 million as the FY2027 figure. The exchange did not clearly reconcile the initial year-specific answer with that clarification. She said the fund had been fully used by August 2026 and DMW was then using PHP 380 million from the General Fund.

Nazal asked whether the 2025 ending balance was PHP 5.6 billion. Labadlabad instead stated the current Treasury balance for verification fees was PHP 4.36 billion. Nazal later called it PHP 4.6 billion and urged another request; that member statement differs from the sponsor's figure. In closing, he manifested support for OWWA's revised PHP 2 billion request and DMW's separate PHP 2 billion priority package, subject to specified outputs, schedules, safeguards, and quarterly reporting. This was support for favorable consideration, not approval.

Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago: Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago cited Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Advisory No. 25, issued in August 2025, which raised the minimum monthly wage for Filipino migrant domestic workers from USD 400 to USD 500. She asked how DMW ensured workers were actually paid at least the new minimum. Sponsor Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad said contracts were reviewed and labor attaches were on the ground to address concerns. Elago requested active monitoring records showing cases and their status.

Elago asked how DMW handled child-support claims involving an overseas Filipino worker parent and what assistance was available where there was no Migrant Workers Office. Labadlabad said DMW summons the worker and refers the matter to legal or labor attaches, using the Labor Attaches Welfare Services Fund. In jurisdictions without an office, DMW coordinates with the Department of Foreign Affairs and embassies' assistance-to-nationals units. Elago urged better use of funds already allocated for assistance, citing needs brought to her office and low utilization of the related DFA assistance.

On solo parents and caregivers of children of low- or semi-skilled OFWs, Labadlabad described psychosocial and family interventions through Kalinga, livelihood or employment pathways through Kabuhayan, and referrals through Kaagapay and the National Reintegration program. She reported 78 beneficiaries in 2025 and 326 in 2026. Elago said the funding described for these programs remained inadequate relative to need and expressed support for increasing it, without naming an amount.

Asked about reintegration for older migrant workers, Labadlabad described financial-literacy support, livelihood, skills transition, mentoring, employment facilitation, and referrals to social protection. She said DMW's Kaalaman and Kabuhayan programs and its Financial Awareness and Small Business Mentoring Training supported older returnees; she reported 4,100 beneficiaries in 2024, 11,138 in 2025, and 7,309 from January through August 2026. For OWWA, she reported reintegration services reaching 410,591 OFW families in 2025 through several programs. Elago asked DMW and OWWA to maintain data by age, capacity, and profession to inform proposed reintegration legislation.

Elago asked about retirement support for workers no longer able to work. Labadlabad said DMW partnered with the Social Security System (SSS) to help establish pension funds for retiring OFWs and was helping develop legislation for an OFW retirement fund. Elago said DMW and OWWA fully supported the proposal.

Elago asked about implementation of the Magna Carta for Seafarers. Labadlabad said DMW had issued or updated sea-based rules and standardized seafarer and fisherfolk contracts; she clarified that the rules were issued in June 2026. Elago requested the latest implementation report, and Labadlabad promised to provide it. Elago also criticized the provision placing seafarers' monetary awards in escrow until a judgment becomes final, which she said could take years, and urged Congress to review it.

Elago raised reports that seafarers could not exercise the right to refuse sailing when most of a crew voted to proceed, and that seafarers who exercised the right could later find themselves blacklisted. She cited DMW's position that workers refusing high-risk routes should not face employment discrimination and should receive proper compensation and free repatriation. Labadlabad said DMW investigates manning agencies for violations and may impose violation fees, suspend an agency, or cancel its license for repeated or continuing violations. She said graduated penalties were based on sea-based rules issued in June 2026 and reported 1,300 Filipino seafarers had refused to sail or traverse.

Elago also said workers were sometimes not told vessel routes until after boarding and recounted a report of a seafarer from Calamba who did not know the ship would pass through a war zone or high-risk area. Labadlabad said DMW could investigate violations involving undisclosed routes. Elago asked for counts of requests from seafarers seeking return and a breakdown of those repatriated after refusing to sail; the sponsor agreed to provide it after deliberation.

In closing, Elago supported increasing the Aksyon Fund so workers who had not received assistance could obtain it. She gave no amount, and no adoption or approval was recorded in this exchange.

Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula: Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula said her office had received reports that Filipino seafarers working for Magsaysay Maritime Corporation on Princess Cruises Limited ships were searched without warrants, had belongings such as phones taken, were accused of crimes without due process or evidence, and were deported. She asked what the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) was doing about the reported mass deportations during the US government's "Operational Tidal Wave."

Sponsor Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad said the government respects other countries' sovereignty and laws but remains committed to protecting seafarers' rights, welfare and due process. She distinguished allegations, immigration actions and criminal filings, and said DMW would not prejudge returning seafarers' cases where no charge or conviction had been established. She described DMW assistance, case documentation and coordination with Philippine and foreign authorities, and said it had consulted licensed manning agencies and assisted deported seafarers.

Ismula asked how DMW coordinated with the Philippine Embassy in the United States to secure legal aid, then relayed reports that detained seafarers were told by embassy staff, "okay lang yan, makakalaya ka naman," and asked whether DMW shared that view. Labadlabad said DMW was working with the manning agency to arrange legal assistance; she described this as support still being worked on.

Asked how much had been disbursed for seafarers affected by the deportations, Labadlabad said 222 had been deported and each received PHP 50,000 in Aksyon Fund assistance, for PHP 11.1 million disbursed. Ismula said her office had heard that some returned seafarers waited as long as six months for the aid and asked why. Labadlabad attributed delays to Middle East tensions and said DMW was catching up and committed to returning to 30-day disbursement.

Ismula asked DMW to ensure release within 30 days from that day. Labadlabad answered, "Yes," and assured her she could rely on the commitment.

Asked what the Abu Dhabi Dialogue was and why it mattered, Labadlabad described it as a voluntary intergovernmental forum linking Asian labor-origin and destination countries to promote safe, orderly and regular migration; she said it had 10 member states, including Gulf states. Ismula asked about funding. Labadlabad said the forum had no allocation in the NEP and that DMW requested PHP 60 million to host at least three conferences. Ismula confirmed that the Philippines would host and expressed support for funding the Dialogue for migrant-worker training, protection and welfare.

In closing, Ismula also expressed strong support for increasing DMW and OWWA funding, particularly for repatriation and assistance to distressed OFWs, so help would be prompt and sufficient. These were expressions of support, not appropriation approvals.

Rep. Iris Marie Demesa Montes: Rep. Iris Marie Demesa Montes said women are the majority of newly deployed land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), many in domestic care work, and asked how much of the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (Aksyon Fund) was specifically sub-allocated for urgent legal, medical and rescue assistance to abused female domestic workers. Sponsor Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad said the entire fund was available for any OFW in need and that more than 50% had actually gone to women OFWs. Montes emphasized that this was more than half and renewed her request for sex-disaggregated data to inform future allocations.

Montes also asked what funding supported overseas migrant workers' offices and runaway shelters, including trauma-informed female staff, mental-health professionals and gender-sensitive facilities. Labadlabad identified Migrant Workers Resource Centers and the Labor Attaches' Fund as the funding sources.

Montes asked whether the FY2027 budget set aside direct funding to expand anti-trafficking enforcement and digital monitoring against job scams and trafficking networks targeting vulnerable women. Labadlabad said PHP 18 million was allocated for illegal-recruitment efforts.

Montes called for more funding given the scale of digital scams. Labadlabad said DMW had requested an additional PHP 2 billion, part of which she said would support recruitment and anti-trafficking efforts. The request was not approved in this exchange.

Montes asked what share of the 2027 DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) joint reintegration budget was earmarked for high-value skills training in technology, health care and other demanded fields for returning women. Labadlabad cited PHP 45 million for the Balik Pinay Program but did not state what portion funded the requested high-value skills training. She separately said 79% of the Emergency Repatriation Fund (ERF) was allocated for women, amounting to more than PHP 1 billion. These figures describe distinct programs and funding scopes.

Montes then asked what measurable indicators and gender-disaggregated baseline data tracked whether returning women moved from precarious low-wage care work into sustainable livelihoods or formal employment. Labadlabad said DMW had monitoring services and disaggregated data and offered to provide the data. She cited 79% female beneficiaries in the Balik Pinay Balikhanap Buhay Program; that beneficiary share did not provide the requested outcome indicators for employment transitions.

In closing, Montes called for a stronger 2027 DMW budget for protection, support and reintegration. She moved to terminate the sponsorship debate; the majority joined and the joint motion was approved, ending the period. The motion closed debate and did not approve an appropriation increase.

Commission on Filipinos Overseas presentation: Sponsor Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad said the CFO was ready for interpellation. Consideration concluded without a substantive question-and-answer exchange.

NCIP proposed budget presentation: Deputy Speaker Janette L. Garin recognized Vice Chairs Josefina B. Tallado and Rodolfo "Ompong" M. Ordanes as sponsors of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) proposed budget. Ordanes delivered the sponsorship and said the commission was ready to answer questions.

Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula: Akbayan Party-list Representative Dadah Kiram Ismula asked whether the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) would invest in regional or field offices in 2027. Sponsor Representative Rodolfo "Ompong" M. Ordanes said the agency aimed to strengthen regional, provincial, and community service centers with technical personnel, field resources, and operating support because delineation, census, and validation work takes place in communities. He said NCIP had submitted a Tier 2 proposal to create 10 provincial offices and 36 community service centers, but it was not included in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Ismula compared an 11% 2025 target for ancestral-domain or land recognition with 0% actual performance and said the 2026 target was again 11%. Ordanes explained that annual targets reflect funded capacity rather than the full number of claims still to be processed. In a later answer he said the 2027 target was 74, while elsewhere describing the 11% target as corresponding to 30 ancestral-domain or land claims. These stated target figures were not reconciled in the exchange.

On 2026 certificates, Ordanes separately said three Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADTs) and Certificates of Ancestral Land Title (CALTs) had been approved; later, he reported a total of 17 CADTs issued in 2026 as of July 31, with counts across Regions 3, 12, 9, 6, and 7. The answers give different measures and do not reconcile them.

Asked how processing would be expedited, Ordanes described coordination with the Land Registration Authority on registration, overlaps and a technical working group, broader land-justice initiatives, an approved order allowing contracted survey services awaiting publication, and digitization for processing and monitoring.

When Ismula asked why the target for Indigenous Peoples assisted in plan formulation remained 7% in both 2026 and 2027, Ordanes said the NCIP had 999 ancestral domains, of which 335 had formulated Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plans (ADSDPPs), leaving 664. The funded 2027 target was 30 ADSDPPs, about 4.5% of that gap; he said 634 would remain afterward. Ordanes said annual targets follow available resources while the actual mandate is larger, and that NCIP had proposed a higher budget to expand coverage.

Ismula asked for an update on the 20-year Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) application for the Marihangin community in Palawan. Ordanes said the community had requested processing funds under a PHP 100 million allocation and the field office had submitted a work and financial plan. He also reported overlapping ancestral-domain boundary claims; funds for a conflict-resolution conference had been downloaded to the field office. NCIP planned to resolve the boundary issue and proceed with delineation once requirements and funding arrangements were in place. Ismula welcomed the update.

Ismula asked about concerns over the revised Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) guidelines and the lack of a follow-up after dialogue with NCIP. Ordanes said the Commission en banc had approved the revisions and they were scheduled for publication; he described a review begun in 2016 with years of consultations and deliberations involving Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) and other stakeholders. Ismula disputed that account, relaying that some regional and field offices said they had been consulted only once and had not seen the draft, and that she had received no update after NCIP indicated it would address concerns.

Asked whether the memorandum of agreement remained the main evidence of consent, Ordanes said the core requirement was genuine consent through the community's customary decision-making process. He said the MOA remained and documented enforceable conditions, benefits, and safeguards set by the community. He rejected the claim that deliberation had been shortened, citing up to 60 working days for community consensus and decision-making under the 2026 guidelines, compared with 30 days under the 2012 guidelines and 43 calendar days under E-BOS. He said proponents, rather than communities, carried the time for documentary and administrative requirements, and there was no deemed or constructive consent: consent had to be affirmatively given through customary processes.

For total processing time, Ordanes stated 163 working days for Category A extractive and large-scale projects, 50 working days for Category B, and 20 days for Category C. Ismula rejected the assurance, arguing that the process could produce forced or poorly informed consent and challenging NCIP to widen participation and consultation with Indigenous communities and civil society.

Rep. Jose "Joboy" S. Aquino II: Rep. Jose "Joboy" S. Aquino II of Butuan City manifested concerning what he described as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)'s apathy during local conflicts. He said an 18-year Good Friday tradition, the Panaat Pilgrimage in Barangay Antikala, Butuan City, was deliberately disrupted by political theater, with local indigenous groups manipulated in a clan power struggle. He said the conflict dated to 2020 and that the sacred observance was being used for political gain.

Aquino said his office convened local tribal leaders, barangay officials, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army and the Red Cross to seek official retraction of the resolution. He said the peaceful resolution was reached without NCIP intervention and accused the agency of standing by while tensions escalated.

He asked whether NCIP had a standard funded protocol for immediate dialogue or left that responsibility to legislators and local government units. He pointed to millions allocated to the Ancestral Domains Program, then asked whether a dedicated budget existed for a rapid-response interagency mechanism so NCIP would not stand by when disputes arose. The NCIP sponsor, Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" M. Ordanes, does not answer these questions in this source unit.

Rep. Jurdin Jesus "JJ" M. Romualdo: Rep. Jurdin Jesus "JJ" M. Romualdo said he would forego his questions on the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), intending to raise them when the House considered his bill to amend the Indigenous Peoples' charter. He said that, at the proper time, he would propose reducing NCIP's budget to PHP 1,000. This was a future proposal, not a motion moved or an adopted reduction in this exchange.

Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago: Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago asked the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for its position on the Pax Silica Initiative and its potential effects on indigenous lands and livelihoods. Sponsor Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" M. Ordanes said NCIP was coordinating with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and indigenous communities while details remained unclear. He reported an August 2026 census of 83 households and 950 individuals in the affected community in Tarlac, and said its ancestral-domain application was under review by a Provincial Delineation Team.

Ordanes said NCIP had held community dialogues and conveyed concerns to BCDA. He described residents as worried about displacement and the status of their ancestral domain. Elago highlighted risks to livelihood, culture, history, and ancestral graves, and asked about BCDA's response and steps to protect them. Ordanes said consultations with BCDA and affected communities were continuing.

Elago said consultation should lead to action and allow indigenous concerns to influence decisions. She opposed NCIP's revised Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) guidelines, arguing that faster assemblies and consensus-building periods conflict with indigenous decision-making traditions and weaken protections. Ordanes responded that the commission was committed to protecting indigenous rights and said the concerns had been addressed through extended consultation.

Elago asked whether Pax Silica had obtained FPIC; Ordanes answered that it had not. Elago then stated that the project had no FPIC, environmental impact assessment, environmental compliance certificate, or detailed feasibility study. Those latter project-status statements were Elago's claims in the exchange; Ordanes did not separately confirm them. She registered opposition over potential effects on indigenous lives, livelihoods, culture, rights, the environment, and agricultural land.

Elago asked what safeguards NCIP used for communities affected by destructive mining and quarrying and requested concrete information on active projects and affected indigenous peoples. Ordanes described NCIP's rights-protection mandate and said the agency would provide the requested mining and quarrying data within a week. Elago asked that the information also be submitted to the House and relevant committees for review.

Elago then asked whether NCIP had studied or taken a position on the Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Mineral Supply Chains, signed by the Philippines in February 2026, which she described as covering reciprocal supplies of raw and processed critical minerals through mining and exploration. Ordanes said NCIP had not yet completed a study or formed a position. He said the agency would study the MOU and that indigenous peoples would shape the work; Elago stressed that affected communities should be heard despite the agreement already being signed.

Elago asked about NCIP initiatives to improve access to quality education at all levels and coordination with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education. Ordanes reported 1,372 beneficiaries under PAMANA and 2,080 under SAP, and said there were 14 projects; the exchange does not clearly assign the project count to a program. Elago requested the full details and also sought information on employment, livelihood, and agricultural services, saying indigenous communities were often left out of budget programs. She urged NCIP and the House to ensure services reach underserved communities and give their needs priority.

Rep. Antonio L. Tinio: ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio L. Tinio asked National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) sponsor Representative Rodolfo "Ompong" M. Ordanes how NCIP would be involved in the Pax Silica initiative. Ordanes described NCIP's role as coordinating social safeguards with Indigenous communities. Tinio connected the initiative's critical-minerals component to mining that could affect ancestral lands, and asked whether Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) was part of permit processing.

Referring to the Philippines-United States Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals, which he said was signed on February 4, 2026, Tinio pointed to its call to accelerate, streamline, or deregulate permitting timelines and processes and asked how that commitment related to FPIC. Ordanes said FPIC is not itself a permit, but confirmed it is required for a project within ancestral domain and that a permit cannot issue without evidence of consent. He said NCIP would not sacrifice Indigenous Peoples' substantive rights to speed permitting. Tinio warned NCIP not to become a rubber stamp for accelerated critical-minerals permitting. He stressed that although NCIP does not issue the mining permit, FPIC is a necessary condition for it; Ordanes agreed that Indigenous rights would not be sacrificed.

Ordanes said the revised 2026 FPIC guidelines had undergone a review beginning in 2016, with 32 documented consultation and engagement activities, including 20 Commission en banc review and deliberation sessions. Tinio noted that the guidelines were still unavailable on NCIP's website. Ordanes said they had not yet been published and were therefore not effective. Tinio stated that the Commission en banc decision approving them was dated May 1, 2026; Ordanes said comments were still being incorporated and publication had been held for refinement.

On the community decision period, Ordanes said the 2026 guidelines provide up to 60 working days for consensus-building and decision-making, compared with 30 days under the 2012 guidelines. He said the period could be extended when the community and applicant agreed. Tinio pressed for an explanation of the four-month publication delay after the May 1 approval. Ordanes attributed the hold to the House committee on Indigenous Peoples and incorporation of comments; he agreed with Tinio that the Commission ultimately decided to hold publication for refinement.

Tinio identified New Clark City as a concrete site being discussed in connection with Pax Silica and said roughly 1,600 hectares had been identified, mainly in Capas, Tarlac. He cited statements by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and New Clark City that no Indigenous communities would be affected. Ordanes disagreed, identifying 83 households and 950 people in Sitio Pangkawayan, Barangay Aranguren, Capas, Tarlac. Asked whether those communities had gone through FPIC, Ordanes said no; he said no project was yet underway, while confirming that the community was present and that NCIP remained in dialogue with BCDA.

Tinio read from a BCDA letter dated July 8, 2026, to a Sitio Rivera, Barangay Santa Lucia resident. The letter said the occupied land would be affected by New Clark City and invited the resident to discuss project procedures and government assistance, with a response expected within 10 days. Tinio interpreted the invitation as signaling relocation and said residents, including Indigenous families, were already facing pressure. Ordanes said no one was being removed and NCIP would not allow it, but clarified that NCIP had no official information about removals and that BCDA was the agency that could answer. Tinio urged NCIP to visit and speak directly with the community; he described protests and reported restrictions on access to their community.

They disputed whether Santa Lucia was covered by the ancestral-domain claim. Tinio cited an original 1999 application, resubmitted in February 2021 with regional endorsement in March 2021, listing Santa Lucia among the covered barangays. Ordanes said the community amended the application in 2022 to remove Santa Lucia residential areas, while other areas remained part of the claim. He said processing remained pending because of overlaps with BCDA titled areas, funding requirements, incomplete evidence needing validation and internal community issues. He agreed that the claimed area would be covered by the Pax Silica project.

Rep. Renee Louise M. Co: Rep. Renee Louise M. Co used her manifestation before the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) budget interpellation ended to raise reports of harassment, violence, and legal actions against indigenous communities resisting large mining companies. She cited a case in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, where North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation sought to exploit ancestral lands; she said NCIP had issued a certificate of non-overlap that the community was contesting through a petition to the agency.

Co also cited residents of Bulalakaw and Ginawang in Benguet affected by Crescent Mining and Development Corporation. She said the host community initially voted against the project, but the voting area was later expanded to include other barangays, diluting the host communities' opposition. She said a case remained pending before NCIP.

Co raised the case of Bugkalot people in Dupaks del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, who she said had been displaced from the Cordillera highlands to Nueva Vizcaya by mining in the 1980s, before the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act and before NCIP existed. She said they had no recourse at the time to assert rights to ancestral lands and domains. Co further alleged that communities defending land and the environment faced harassment, red-tagging, violence, and multiple lawsuits, and said NCIP had done little to protect indigenous peoples and advocates. These were Co's accounts and allegations; no sponsor response appears in this unit.

Co said she and others remained unsatisfied with questions raised in the debate, while noting that colleagues had already asked them. Before the House terminated the NCIP interpellation period, she asked that the information requested by members be provided promptly. Rep. Arnan C. Panaligan joined the motion to terminate, and Deputy Speaker Ferjenel G. Biron, M.D., heard no objection and declared the interpellations terminated. This was a procedural closure; no appropriation approval was recorded in this unit.