Congressmen and senators have a new pork barrel called “7-7-7.” To get it, they simply join political sorties of Congress leaders.
Insatiable, they elbow each other out for heftier “30-30-30” loot.
“7-7-7” is P7-million AKAP + P7-million TUPAD + P7-million AICS. Each legislator receives P21 million in all just for attending dole-out gatherings called Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fairs.
At those events politicos give P500 and rice to needy supporters. Money comes from leftover insertions in the 2024 national budget for:
• Ayuda sa Kapos Kita Program, P26.7 billion;
• Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged, P28.9 billion;
• Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, P34.3 billion.
Congress inserted the pork during 2023 budget hearings. It became bribes in 2024 for a People’s Initiative to revise the Constitution.
The PI flopped. Legislators then renewed the giveaways as electioneering in June to December 2024.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong exposed the racket from info of the reformist Mayors for Good Governance. M4GG consists of 180 of 1,642 city and municipal mayors. News went viral in social media, then in mainstream broadcast.
“They’re scrambling to join the giveaway sorties,” says Magalong, a bemedaled police general. “If one is able to join two sorties, then he gets P42 million in all; if four, then P84 million.”
Legislators use the cash for early vote-buying in bailiwicks.
“There’s worse,” Magalong adds. “Congressmen are jockeying to host sorties in legislative districts – for ’30-30-30’.”
This time, each gets P30-million AKAP + P30-million TUPAD + P30-million AICS – P90 million in one blow.
“M4GG doubts if recipients are true indigents,” Magalong says. “Legislators don’t show mayors their rosters. But its city and municipal halls know who the truly needy.”
If M4GG members are granted “7-7-7,” they can assemble real indigents for cash giveaways, another member says. No duplication.
Baguio Rep. Mark Go denies Magalong: “Hindi totoo ang sinasabi niyang ‘7-7-7.’ AKAP, TUPAD and AICS are national government programs of President Bongbong Marcos with well-defined processes and oversight mechanisms.
“Trina-trabaho natin para masiguradong may budget ang mga national programs sa Baguio. Dapat nakikipagtulungan [si Magalong] kapag naipaglalaban natin ang budget para sa Baguio, dahil tulong ito na guminhawa ang buhay ng mga higit na nangangailangan.”
Go is running for city mayor against re-electionist Magalong in May 2025.
Ako Bicol Party list Rep. Zaldy Co says Magalong’s story is “politically motivated:”
“Kaplastikan ang sinasabi niya. Balita ko ayaw na sa kanya ng mga taga-Baguio. Ang problema sa kanya ay alam niyang hindi na siya mananalo. Alam niyang magaling ang kalaban niya. Kaya sinisiraan niya ang AKAP. Kawawa naman ang taumbayan.”
BBM launched Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fairs on Sept. 23, 2023 simultaneously in Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Nabua, Camarines Sur; Tolosa, Leyte and Monkayo, Davao de Oro. He promised “easier access to government services for initially 400,000 Filipinos.”
One event was held in Tagum, Davao del Norte on June 7, 2024. Rep. Sam Verzosa posted on Facebook: “Five hundred million or half billion pesos po na ayuda at tulong ang binaba sa ating mga kababayan. Mula po sa ating gobyerno.”
Critics deride “Bagong Pilipinas” as a rehash of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s “Bagong Lipunan.” The latter slogan propagandized martial law, 1972-1986, in peso bills, crony-owned newspapers, TV plugs, songs and streamers.
After a people-backed military uprising toppled Marcos Sr., the government discovered his plunder of $30 billion. Plus 3,257 extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 737 disappearances and 70,000 incarcerations.
The Supreme Court outlawed pork barrels in November 2013. It defined the yearly P70 million per congressman, P200 million per senator, higher for President as (1) discretionary, (2) lump-sums, (3) for vague projects.
Six months later Janet Lim Napoles implicated 20 senators and 100 congressmen for whom she laundered pork money via bogus beneficiaries of bogus NGOs. A dozen were indicted, three convicted, none imprisoned – only Napoles is in jail for life.
Under Rody Duterte, pork multiplied as “congressional insertions” in flood works and “parked funds” in Executive agencies.
This 2025 being an election year, there’s P26 billion for AKAP, P14.9 billion for TUPAD and P44.7 billion for AICS.
Critics fear the money will be used for vote buying.
DSWD claims to have strict rules for release of AKAP and AICS, and DOLE for TUPAD.
Since the Election Code forbids cash giveaways during campaigns, ex-senator Franklin Drilon proposes postponement of distribution till the next term of officials starting June 30.
Still, Comelec approved the cash doles.
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