Batangast 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste – Photo courtesy from Leandro Legarda Leviste/Facebook.
Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste confirmed on Wednesday that the 2026 budget for his district under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) rose from the initial figures in the National Expenditures Program (NEP), saying he is proud of the outcome.
The final allocation for infrastructure projects in his district reached around P5 billion, higher than the NEP’s original amount.
Critics note that the sudden jump raises questions, given Leviste’s earlier comments about corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Leviste explained that the increase came after “they removed the outside allocables from my NEP,” which he said led to a higher budget in the GAA.
The lawmaker insisted that the funds would go to classrooms and other local infrastructure. He said, “I am proud that I am the proponent for the projects in my classroom,” highlighting his personal role in the allocation.
Leviste also clarified that the 2026 budget for his district is lower than the 2025 allocation of around P6 billion, before he became the district representative, noting that prior allocations included “parked” projects.
He maintained that the budget increases were based on local government unit (LGU) requests, covering multi-purpose buildings, schools, water systems, and other local needs. He said there were no additional road projects or slope protection included.
Despite Leviste’s assurances, some observers question whether the increase, and the emphasis on his personal involvement, reflects proper transparency, leaving the public to scrutinize the process and allocations more closely.