Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste on Saturday, thanked fellow lawmakers who clarified the release of a P2-million fund received by some members of the House of Representatives, which he earlier described as a “Christmas bonus.”
In a Facebook post, Leviste expressed appreciation to House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, and Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco for confirming the existence and nature of the P2-million allocation.
He said Puno clarified that the amount was not a personal Christmas bonus but additional funding intended for district-related “Christmas requirements,” such as meetings with barangay officials, health activities, consultations, and community events.
The batangas lawmaker said that Ridon also confirmed that up to P2 million was released on the final day of Congress, sourced from Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), and stressed that the only bonuses formally given to lawmakers are the 13th and 14th month pay. He added that similar releases had existed in previous Congresses.
“Umabot ng 2 milyon iyun pong inilabas noong huling araw ng Kongreso galing sa MOOE... Lahat po iyan ay para sa mga opisina, sa mga pangangailangan ng mga distrito,” Leviste cited Ridon. “Ang bonus lang diyan ay ang 13th atsaka 14th month bonus na ibinibigay para po sa mga Kongresista,” he added.
Leviste said the clarifications were necessary after some lawmakers initially denied the existence of the P2-million release. He noted that while others claimed the amount was part of the office budget, it was clearly on top of the regular P1-million monthly office allocation, as confirmed by Puno.
He also cited Tiangco’s statement that additional funds are not limited to Christmas, pointing out that lawmakers reportedly receive P1.5 million during Undas, another P1.5 million during Easter as a “break bonus,” and that such a system has long been in place. Tiangco, Leviste said, also called for greater transparency in how Congress uses its budget.
Leviste detailed that in 2025, a congressman’s monthly salary stood at ₱334,059. When combined with the 13th and 14th month bonuses, a ₱1-million monthly office budget, and the ₱2-million Christmas-related allocation, total compensation and MOOE for December alone could reach about ₱4 million.
For 2026, the monthly salary increased to ₱342,310. Including office budgets, break bonuses, and other MOOE, Leviste said the total salary and operating funds available to a single lawmaker for the year could reach as much as ₱22 million.
Leviste emphasized that he does not personally take his salary or MOOE and that he is not claiming the funds are illegal. However, he raised concerns over the lack of transparency and accountability in the House’s use of public funds.
“Hindi ko po kinukuha ang MOOE o sweldo ko, pero hindi ko sinabing iligal ito,” he said.
He questioned why Congress does not publicly disclose detailed spending, why MOOE expenditures are not subjected to receipt-based liquidation unlike other government agencies, and why the House MOOE increased by ₱7.83 billion—from ₱10.75 billion to ₱18.58 billion—in the 2026 budget.
According to Leviste, the increase was not reflected in committee reports and only appeared in the substitute budget bill.
“Hindi malinaw kung saan eksaktong mapupunta ang ₱18.58B, na katumbas ng ₱58.42M kada Congressman,” he said.
While part of the MOOE goes to salaries, utilities, and facilities of Congress, Leviste also questioned allocations for consultants, including individuals he described as “keyboard warriors” or "social media trolls," whom he claimed are now actively defending the House MOOE budget.
"Saan napupunta ang ₱18.58B MOOE?" Leviste questioned.
