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.

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