November 27, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate passed on third and final reading yesterday the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, but with controversial items like the allocations for the Office of the Vice President and the financial assistance Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) set aside for later discussion at the bicameral conference committee.
Voting 18 affirmative, zero negative and one abstention, Senate President Francis Escudero announced the approval of the 2025 national budget sponsored by Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the committee on finance.
“The budgets of OVP and AKAP will be determined during bicam. For now, OVP is at GAB (General Appropriations Bill) level while AKAP is restored to the NEP (National Expenditure Program) level. We need to consult our House counterparts on these items,” Poe said in a text message to reporters.
In abstaining, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said he wanted to “adopt a wait-and-see attitude, which is the more prudent approach.”
“Of course, this is in addition to my continuing objection to very unnecessary presidential certification for a bill which we process every year and on a specified period of the year,” Pimentel said.
“However, I join the President in his expectation that all agencies should ensure that every centavo allocated will be judiciously spent on urgent priorities and socially impactful programs,” he added.
“It is therefore imperative to monitor the developments during the bicameral conference meetings, particularly on the following matters which I believe this representation believes to be very significant,” the minority leader said.
He urged government agencies to “exercise discipline and eliminate wasteful spending.”
“Let us not forget that our projected budget deficit for 2025 stands at P1.53 trillion, while the national government’s total outstanding debt is expected to reach P17.35 trillion next year, and with gross borrowings for 2025 projected at P2.5 trillion,” he said.
“So adopting this cautious, wait-and-see approach allows us to ensure that the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2025, which is themed agenda for prosperity, fulfilling the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people, will truly and adequately address the genuine and authentic needs of the Filipino people,” Pimentel added.
He said the public should give closer attention to several items in the national budget, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s AKAP.
He also noted that closer monitoring should be made on the projects of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways, particularly its flood management programs.
Pimentel pointed out issues concerning DICT’s infrastructure flagship projects, unprogrammed appropriations and the Department of Health’s Cancer Assistance Fund.
“And then let us add also PhilHealth, the PhilHealth subsidy, as well as the corporate operating budget of PhilHealth. Some police and military expenditures need to be monitored carefully,” Pimentel said.
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