Magalong hits indiscrimate use of millions of ayuda funds by lawmakers

BAGUIO CITY (January 5, 2025) – Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong in an interview over youtube by Koolulu TV with 89,000 views denounced lawmakers indiscriminate giving out millions of “ayuda” funds.

The interview with the Baguio City Mayor, a leading member of the Mayors for Good Governance, revolving around the 2025 budget blamed lawmakers ‘or making it appear (that such funds) are their personal funds’. We (member-mayors of the League of Cities) saw that. We have been conferring and we see those similar observations, he stressed. “Halos unlimited ang pondo nila.”

Magalong even claimed of a supposed 7-7-7 scheme, which he though claimed were allegations, where lawmakers going with House Speaker Martin Romualdez during pay-out sorties get at their behest P7 million for Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP), P7 million for Assistance for Inidividuals in Crisis Sitation (AICS) and another P7 million for Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD).  “Biruin mo, pag naka apat kang sortie na nasalian, e di 21 million times four.”

The Baguio Mayor even claimed that they are blind on the aid and beneficiaries. "We are not given any data," he said.

Efforts to confirm directly from Magalong about the interview posted on social media has proven futile as of press time.

Earlier, social welfare chief Rex Gatchalian vowed AKAP will be shielded from political interference and specifically banned candidates from visiting payout sites.