The Philippine Commission on Audit (COA) had announced tightening the release of public funds for government projects. This was after several fraud transactions using public funds were uncovered recently. The COA had already called on the Department of Budget and Management to limit the participation of lawmakers in the identification of proposed budgets to be financed with pork barrel funds. This would ensure that the budget meet terms of the General Appropriations Act of the country.

The Commission on Audit made a list of recommendations through a special audit conducted on the congressional pork barrel. The latter showed massive public fund wastes and losses. The public fund came from the government's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). The fund was for numerous infrastructures.

The COA asked the Department of Budget and Management to issue guidelines on how the PDAF was to be used. Non-governmental organizations were also called to participate in implementing the projects funded by the government funds.