QUEZON CITY—Congress and the Senate of the Philippines have officially ratified the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, incorporating a strict special provision designed to eliminate "epal" politics. 

This measure explicitly prohibits politicians from interfering in or controlling the distribution of government financial assistance and other aid programs. The move aims to ensure that public funds reach those in need without being used as tools for political credit or grandstanding.

House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikael Suansing confirmed that the responsibility for drafting and enforcing the specific guidelines now rests with the executive branch. 

Once President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs the national budget into law, executive agencies will have full authority over the implementation of major social programs. These include the Department of Health’s medical assistance for indigent patients (MAIP), the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), and the Labor Department’s TUPAD program.

Regarding the common practice of lawmakers issuing Guarantee Letters (GL) for medical and financial aid, Suansing stated that the executive branch would determine the future of this process. A Guarantee Letter serves as an official government commitment to pay service providers for medicines and medical services rendered to qualified clients. 

By delegating these rules to the agencies, the legislature is shifting toward a more technocratic and less political distribution of taxpayer-funded relief.

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