House Appropriations Committee starts deliberations on proposed P6.352-T nat’l budget for 2025
House Appropriations Committee starts deliberations on proposed P6.352-T nat’l budget for 2025
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00:00Every morsel of the national budget came from the people and should benefit the people.
00:06That's how the lower house sees it.
00:07That's why lawmakers want to ensure through their deliberations that every peso is well
00:11spent and does not go to waste.
00:14Clazel Pardilla has the full story.
00:18The House Committee on Appropriation has officially commenced its hearing on the proposed national
00:23budget for 2025.
00:25The budget presented reached 6.352 trillion pesos, reflecting an increase of over 10%
00:33compared to last year's budget of 5.7 trillion pesos.
00:38House Speaker Ferdinand Marquinro-Maldas assured the public that Congress will carefully review
00:43every detail of the proposed budget to ensure that every peso is utilized for the benefit
00:49of Filipinos.
00:50Our mission in studying the 2025 budget is clear.
00:56We will give back to all Filipinos the wisdom that is collected through programs and projects
01:05that benefit them.
01:07We will ensure that the service of the government is for all.
01:13Together, we will rise.
01:16No one will be left behind.
01:19The Development Budget Coordination Committee presented a proposed budget highlighting the
01:24largest allocation is earmarked for the education sector.
01:28This funding is intended to sustain and enhance the provision of free education under the
01:34Universal Access to Quality Education Initiative.
01:38Following the education sector, significant investments will be made in infrastructure
01:44projects aiming to boost national development.
01:47The budget also includes provisions for expanding health benefits and improving the welfare
01:53of the poorest and most vulnerable Filipinos.
01:57This will be achieved through continued support under the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program
02:02and the government's Zero Hunger Program.
02:05That is why questions have been raised regarding whether the allocated funding for the food
02:10stamp program is sufficient to effectively reduce incidents of hunger.
02:15We have 104 billion pesos for subsidies.
02:19Based on the latest data, Madam Chair, we have 4,311,326 household beneficiaries.
02:25So assuming that they receive 25,000 each, if you multiply that with the total amount
02:30of beneficiaries, that would give us 107.7 billion pesos.
02:36So there might be a possibility that we might encounter another budget deficit.
02:40There were queries also on whether the financial aid provided to beneficiaries of the four
02:45P's will be increased to alleviate the impact of inflation.
02:50Our president has directed the DSWD, PSA, and NEDA to examine the possibility of adjusting
02:56the cash assistance provided.
02:58How much are the recommended cash grants?
03:00An increase from 2,850 to 3,550.
03:06And that takes care of the inflation.
03:09The adjustment will be made in 2026.
03:12The proposed budget for the agricultural sector stands at Php 211 billion.
03:18This allocation is intended to boost food production and make essential goods more affordable.
03:24However, this budget amount has been reduced, which concerns some lawmakers.
03:29Largely due to the lower subsidy to NIA, which declined by Php 27.7 billion.
03:36The proposed Php 70 billion set aside for increasing government employees' salaries
04:00has come under scrutiny.
04:02The allocation, however, does not extend to job order and contract of service employees.
04:07To ensure the allocated funds are effectively used and promptly spent, the Department of
04:37Budget and Management has committed to an expedited budget release and fast-track procurement
04:44processes.
04:45House Speaker Ron Maldas has promised to ensure the funds will be put to good use to contribute
04:50to the country's development and deliver tangible benefits to the Filipino people.
04:55Kalays Alpardilla for the New and Better Philippines.