Hontiveros says 2027 budget not about Sara Duterte; flags cuts in health projects

MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said the proposed 2027 national budget should focus on public needs rather than one person’s political concerns, responding to Vice President Sara Duterte’s question on whether next year’s spending plan was being used for her impeachment.

“The 2027 budget as ‘yung budget sa kahit aling taon, ay hindi tungkol sa iisang tao. Tungkol siya sa tamang paggamit ng buwis ng mamamayan, pera ng gobyerno, na limitado, optimally sa mga pangangailangan ng mga kababayan natin, lalo na ‘yung mga pinaka-vulnerable,” she said.

“So, kesa gumawa ng ganyang mga comments, mas maiging patuloy na lang paghandaan nina VP ‘yung depensa nila sa impeachment trial pag-resume po namin sa Nobyembre,” she added.

The Senate impeachment court is on break until November 9, 2026 to give senator-judges and Congress time to deliberate and pass the proposed 2027 national budget

The senator also left it to Duterte’s defense team to decide whether the vice president would personally appear during the impeachment proceedings when the trial resumes in November.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros raised concerns over proposed cuts and realignments in the 2027 national budget, particularly reductions in foreign-assisted projects, health facilities and immunization.

Speaking at a separate event organized by the Management Association of the Philippines, Hontiveros warned that cuts to foreign-assisted projects could affect the country’s international commitments and expose the government to penalties for implementation delays.

“Well, siyempre top of mind, concern ‘yung pagbawas na naman sa foreign assistance projects. Kasi ito nga ‘yung isa sa mga naging problema noong nakaraang taon, well, rather 2024, for the 2025 budget,” she said.

“Ayun ay mga kumbaga international obligations na rin natin eh. Mayroon reputational damage na posibleng mangyari kapag di tayo tumupad our end of the bargain like the government counterpart. There could be fees and penalties pag may delay sa pag-implementa ng mga proyektong mga iyon,” she added.

Hontiveros also questioned whether funds previously removed from foreign-assisted projects had been transferred to unappropriated programs, stressing that the latter should not become discretionary funds for government officials.

“Two years ago, for last year’s budget, ‘yung apparently inilipat mula sa foreign assistance projects. Inilipat naman sa unappropriated programs. Lumaki na naman ‘yung unappropriated programs item na ‘yan. So titingnan namin kung doon ba napunta ulit ‘yung foreign-assisted projects na items at kung oo o hindi, ano ‘yung terms para gamitin ‘yung unappropriated funds na yun, hindi kasi dapat maging discretionary funds nino man,” Hontiveros explained.

The senator, a longtime health advocate, also criticized the proposed P4-billion reduction in the Health Facilities Enhancement Program and the P1-billion cut to the immunization program.

She noted that more than 30 provinces do not have Department of Health-run provincial hospitals, underscoring the need to maintain funding for health facilities.

“And as a long-time health advocate also, ‘di ko talaga matatanggap na we have P4 billion decreased from the budget, for example, of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program,” she said. “Ngayon pa na higit 30 na probinsya natin ay walang DOH-run provincial hospitals, or for that matter, or ‘yung pagbawas ng isang bilyong piso sa immunization program eh immunization ay isa sa mga long-established, na pinaka-epektibo at cost-effective na primary health care interventions para at the outset, makaiwas sa sakit ang mga bata natin.”

Hontiveros said she would not immediately support a budget containing cuts that could harm public health.

“I assure you: I cannot instantly agree to a budget that has sustained cuts that could adversely affect the health of our kababayan. Those supposed cuts deserve further scrutiny,” she said.

As the Senate prepares to deliberate on the proposed budget, Hontiveros said she would sponsor the allocations for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

For the DENR, she said she would push for greater funding for climate-based solutions, particularly amid concerns over water security and the anticipated Super El Niño.

“My priority for the DENR budget is to make sure they have enough or more funding support for their climate-based solutions. Not just in the wake of the flood-control scandal, pero doon importanteng-importante climate-based, hindi lang gray infrastructure solutions, pero climate-based solutions din para mapaghandaan natin at matugunan ng maayos itong Super El Nino, especially in terms of water security,” she  said. 

For the DSWD, Hontiveros said she would seek greater support for the Lawa at Binhi program, which combines water security initiatives with livelihood and agricultural activities.

“I will really try to rally support for greater funding for their program on Lawa at Binhi, which is also a water security programme. At the same time, as an originally cash-for-work programme of the DSWD, ay sinusuportahan at ini-scale up ‘yung productive capacity of the participants, lalo na sa pamamagitan ng agrikultura,” she said.