By Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)
The bicameral committee’s televised approval of the 2025 budget is nothing more than a show to appease public outrage while maintaining the entrenched system of patronage politics and fund misuse.
Despite the supposed public nature of the deliberation, the public was still kept in the dark on the particulars – the what, why’s and wherefores – of the amendments adopted.
Despite calls for accountability and the historical misuse of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs), President Bongbong Marcos’ allocation of P4.5 billion remains untouched. In fact, the bicam even increased his office’s budget by another P5.4 billion without providing details in the committee report to justify this adjustment. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about the prioritization of discretionary funds over urgent public needs.
In a glaring show of misprioritization, Philhealth gets a subsidy cut of P74.43 that may have been realigned to the DPWH that gains P289 billion for even more infrastructure projects.
Worse, the inclusion of the AKAP program, which was never part of the original National Expenditure Program, is a glaring attempt to legalize “ayuda politics” in time for the 2025 elections. By routing funds through politicians, it paves the way for massive vote-buying under the guise of financial assistance, turning the General Appropriations Act into an instrument for electioneering.
A genuine people’s budget should prioritize the needs of ordinary Filipinos— health, education, and livelihood — not the ambitions and pockets of a privileged few. This approved budget fails to meet that standard and instead protects the vested interests of the President and his allies.#
