Manila, Sept. 24 -- Pork barrel politics remains entrenched in government spending, with lawmakers allegedly inserting billions of pesos into the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget without the President's knowledge, Senator Erwin Tulfo said Wednesday.

In an interview with ANC, Tulfo was asked about figures showing Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co's allocations allegedly ballooned from PHP519 million in 2022 to PHP7 billion in 2025 under the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

"Kaya nga, that's the problem. Hindi mo talaga makikita 'yun because aakalain mo na DPWH lang ang gumawa ng budget na 'yun and I'm very sure 100 percent hindi alam ng Pangulo 'yun kasi ibibigay lang sa kanya ang NEP (That's the problem. You wouldn't see i...