Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday defended her decision not to sign the bicameral conference committee approved of 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), saying it remained riddled with pork barrel allocations despite changes made during the bicameral conference.

In a Facebook post, Marcos said she refused to sign the GAA and its bicam committee report because it was still, in her words, a “giniling budget” a form of pork barrel that she said was merely disguised to make it less obvious.

"Kinikilala ko ang power of the purse ng Kongreso, pero hindi ko pinirmahan ang 2026 GAA Bicam Report at ang ratipikasyon nito sa Senado," Marcos said in a statement released on the last day of the year.

“Ang budget na ito ay giniling — pork pa rin,giniling lang para hindi halata. Kaya ayoko pumirma,” she added.

The senator said she strongly objected to what she described as “soft pork,” referring to budgetary items that, while not explicitly labeled as pork barrel, are traditionally linked to political incentives and discretionary spending.

Marcos particularly criticized cuts to flagship and priority government projects, including foreign-assisted infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr). She noted that these projects were reduced despite not being related to flood control.

The senator cited two main reasons for opposing the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget approved by both houses of Congress: first, the ₱124.58-billion cut to foreign-assisted flagship projects of the DPWH and DOTr, even though these were not flood control projects.

Second, the ₱143.83 billion reallocated from flood control funds to social aid programs, which she said have long been associated with political considerations.

"Mali para sa akin na ilipat ang tinanggal na flood control funds patungo sa mga “SOFT PORK” gaya ng MAIFIP, AICS, TUPAD, PAFF, FMR, at LGSF — mga programang matagal nang inuugnay sa political incentives. Ang dagdag na pondo rito? ₱143.83B mula sa NEP," Marcos noted.

She also raised concern over the reallocation of funds originally intended for flood control projects, saying these were diverted to programs she considers soft pork.

“Tuwing mababanggit ang soft pork, hindi ko maiwasang isipin, na ito ay pork barrel pa rin,” Marcos said.

While acknowledging Congress’ constitutional power of the purse, the senator said she chose not to affix her signature to the ratification of the 2026 GAA bicam report because of these concerns.

Beginning Thursday, January 1, the government will temporarily operate under a reenacted budget, using the 2025 spending program with no new projects, until the 2026 national budget is signed into law.

The signing of the new budget is scheduled for Monday, January 5.