Ejercito concerned at reduced funding for vital programs in House budget bill

MANILA — Senate Committee on Finance Chairperson JV Ejercito on Wednesday expressed concern over reduced funding for health, transportation and other vital programs and projects  in the House of Representatives’ version of the General Appropriations Bill — the proposed national budget for 2027.

The hard copy of the GAB was transmitted to the Senate at 5:30 p.m. on October 13.

According to Ejercito, funding for foreign-assisted projects was reduced by P130 billion.

He also mentioned the calamity fund which was reduced by P9.5 billion despite the impending Super El Niño, the Department of Health’s (DOH) Facilities Enhancement Program which was reduced by P4.4 billion, and the immunization program that was reduced by about P4 billion.

The Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) budget was also reduced by P40.4 billion. Funding for the Metro Manila Subway, for example, decreased by P19.7 billion, while the budget for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) decreased by P15 billion.

Meanwhile, according to Ejercito, the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) increased by P23.9 billion, while the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk  increased by P10 billion.

The lawmaker said a total of P206 billion of the 2027 National Expenditure Program was realigned.

“Given naman na kailangan din naman natin ng mga social programs, mga direct assistance dahil nga sa darating na El Niño, Super El Niño, tapos mayroon pa tayong krisis na kinakaharap,” Ejercito said.

(It is a given that we will need social programs like direct assistance because of the coming Super El Niño and we are already facing a crisis.) 

“Pero hindi naman puwedeng lahat ay ilagay doon at kalimutan yung talagang mga big ticket items, yung mga infrastructure programs, yung mga talagang ito ang kailangan nating ilatag na sabi ko nga ito magpapasigla ng ekonomiya natin in the future,” he added.

(But we cannot put all our money there and ignore big-ticket items like infrastructure programs that need to be laid out to boost our economy in the future.)

Ejercito also wants to ask the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regarding the right of way which was reduced by P2.6 billion, and the reduction of funding for flood mitigation structures within major river basins by P4.6 billion.

Ejercito said they will scrutinize the House version and ensure that they will balance the needs of the country.

He also said civil society organizations, the academe, and other watchdogs will be consulted.

Ejercito has advised vice chairpersons of their committee to submit their subcommitee reports on October 23. Plenary debates are scheduled to start on November 23.

Ejercito said they will allot five days for the bicameral conference committee.

He hopes to be finished with the budget on the second week of December, and that the President signs it before the Christmas break.

“Nag-hire kami ng additional seven staff, si SP Win ganoon din dahil metikuloso yan, to look into all the budget, the line items, talagang bubusisiin ‘to hindi na tulad ng dati na ipapasa na lang,” Ejercito assured.

(We and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian have hired additional staff to look into the budget and really scrutinize it.)