MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos on Wednesday said she rejected the 2026 national budget bill, which she described as "ground pork," because of the slash in the allocation for government flagship projects. "Hindi ako pumirma sa giniling budget (I did not sign the ground budget)," Marcos said in a statement. The senator objected to the decrease in the budget for foreign-assisted projects in the Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Transportation. She said the budget for the Metro Manila Subway project, partly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, was reduced. Marcos also said the ₱143.8 billion budget for flood control projects was realigned to the so-called "soft pork" projects, including medical assistance and farm-to-market roads (FMRs). She said the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, among others have been linked to "political incentives." "Every time soft pork was being mentioned, I cannot help but think that it is still pork barrel. That's why I don't want to sign," Marcos said in Filipino. The senator did not sign the bicameral conference committee report on the reconciled 2026 P6.793 trillion general appropriations bill which lawmakers signed on Sunday.