THE HOUSE of Representatives on Monday approved the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, sending it to the Senate amid criticism that billions of pesos in spending changes favor politically driven assistance programs and local projects over essential public services.
House Bill No. 10858 passed on third and final reading with 281 votes in favor, 13 against and one abstention.
The proposed budget is 6% or P407 billion higher than this year’s P6.793-trillion spending plan.
The House Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee identified P116.32 billion in reallocations, including P25.81 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program.
The changes also included P24.97 billion for the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program.
Agriculture received P20.86 billion in recommended reallocations, including P10 billion for the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk program and P4.96 billion for farm-to-market roads.
Education-related reallocations included P1.95 billion for the Department of Education, P3.87 billion for the Commission on Higher Education and P1.44 billion for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The subcommittee also recommended P1 billion for fuel subsidies, which had no allocation in the Executive’s proposed budget.
Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-ao voted against the measure, citing inadequate funding for basic services and preparations for El Niño.
“Our automatic debt payments are growing even faster than the funds allocated for hospitals, schools and housing,” she said in Filipino.
Ms. Bag-ao also questioned the P100-billion allocation for unprogrammed appropriations, saying the funds could instead support healthcare and agriculture.
Party-list Rep. Leila M. de Lima opposed the budget, warning that increased allocations for financial assistance and local projects could reinforce political patronage.
“Patronage is not only about how much; it is also about how funds are distributed, where they go, when they are given, who benefits and ultimately, who decides,” she told the plenary.
Ms. de Lima also raised concerns about reductions in immunization, family planning, classroom construction and disaster response.
Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Antonio L. Tinio earlier said 86.4% or P100.44 billion of the identified reallocations went to what he described as pork barrel-type spending.
He questioned the absence of a separate public report identifying funding reductions, additional allocations and lawmakers proposing the changes.
Former Finance Undersecretary Cielo D. Magno said the emphasis on localized projects and financial assistance suggested lawmakers were preparing for the 2028 elections.
IBON Foundation Executive Director Jose Enrique “Sonny” A. Africa said the House version prioritized discretionary assistance over longer-term development.
He noted that a P164.3-billion increase in interest payments accounted for about 40% of the budget’s P407-billion increase.
“The proposed 2027 national budget is inadequate for addressing the country’s most urgent social and economic needs, and the House of Representatives version makes it even less responsive to these needs,” Mr. Africa said in a Viber message before the budget approval.
He urged senators to prioritize agriculture, disaster preparedness, public hospitals, medicines and education while disclosing all budget amendments and their proponents.
The People’s Budget Coalition and Roundtable for Inclusive Development separately questioned more than P200 billion in House amendments, including about P84 billion in changes it said remained unexplained.
The groups urged senators to restore funding for essential services and called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to veto unjustified budget insertions.
Senate President Sherwin T. Gatchalian has said the chamber was targeting Nov. 9 to begin plenary budget deliberations.
Both chambers will reconcile their versions before submitting the spending plan to the President. — Pexcel John Bacon