House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The so-called "small committee" in the House of Representatives has decided to realign P292.23 billion under the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget in a bid to enhance social services, strengthen social safety nets, and ensure food security. 

Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co said this funding package within the P6.352-trillion GAB for next year aims to address the pressing needs of vulnerable sectors including financially-challenged students, farmers, fisherfolk, soldiers, indigent families, and those who barely passed the poverty threshold.

"The additional funding is crucial for supporting those in need. We're providing assistance to struggling families especially during these challenging times," Co said in a statement Tuesday, Oct. 15, or a day after the first meeting of the small committee. 

The Bicolano said the funding is on top of the P591.8-billion already set aside by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for "ayuda" or cash assistance to impoverished families. 

The small committee is composed of Co, Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo, Majority Leader Zamboanga City 1st district Rep. Mannix Dalipe, and Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Nonoy Libanan. 

More funds for 'ayuda' programs 

Among the key enhancements in the 2025 GAB include the extra P39.8 billion for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)--a program designed to offer immediate support to Filipinos facing financial hardships. 

Due to the wide acceptance and public clamor for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), the House earmarked another P39.8 billion for cash assistance targeting individuals who earn P21,000 and below per month. 

The amount is three times bigger than the current 2024 allocation of P13 billion. 

Co says AKAP is designed to benefit the “near poor” or "lower middle class" segment of the population. These includes minimum wage earners vulnerable to economic shocks like sudden death of household head, sickness, loss of jobs or runaway inflation that can easily send them back to poverty. 

The House also allocated P3.4 billion for the Sustainable Livelihood Program for low-income families. "We believe that empowering individuals through livelihood programs will help break the cycle of poverty,” Co added. 

Quimbo stressed the importance of proactive measures in the proposed budget. 

The appropriations panel senior vice chairperson said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will receive an additional P20.28 billion for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and the Government Internship Program. 

"We must have funds on standby to support those who have crossed the poverty threshold to prevent them from falling back into poverty due to economic challenges. This budget is not just about numbers; it's about the lives we can uplift," Quimbo said.

Addtional budgets for CHEd, DepEd, AFP, DA, DOH 

In further efforts to support education, the House panel allocated P30.01 billion more to provide scholarships for underprivileged students pursuing tertiary education. This funding will be split evenly between the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHEd) Tertiary Education Subsidy and Tulong Dunong programs. 

"Investing in education is investing in the future. Every child deserves the chance to learn and succeed,” said Quimbo, a former professor of economics at the University of the Philippines (UP) and a visiting professor at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) will benefit from an additional P7-billion budget for the construction of new school facilities and repair of existing ones. This funding aims to address the pressing need for improved educational infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, Co said. 

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will gain P8.44 billion in additional funding to increase subsistence allowances of military personnel. Once approved, the daily subsistence of soldiers will increase to P250 or a 67 percent hike from previous levels. 

The extra funding for enlisted men's daily subsistence was initiated by House Speaker Martin Romualdez in response to appeals from military personnel. "Our soldiers deserve the extra allowance. This is a small price to pay for their sacrifice and for defending our country from both internal and external threats," Romualdez said. 

The AFP will also get P3.2 billion more to complete the airport expansion on Pag-asa Island  along with a shelter port in Lawak, Palawan. These are in support of efforts to defend the West Philippine Sea (WPS) against continuing Chinese intrusion. 

"Investing in our military not only supports our soldiers but also strengthens our national security and sovereignty. This also underscores our commitment to protect our territorial integrity," Co added. 

In a bid to enhance food security, the panel realigned P30 billion for the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Philippine Irrigation Network Piping System, solar-powered irrigation systems, and cold storage projects. "Food security is a priority for our nation, and these investments will help ensure that our farmers can thrive," the panel chairman stated. 

Additionally, P44 billion has been added to the National Irrigation Administration's (NIA) budget for establishing pump irrigation and solar-driven pump irrigation projects. 

The Department of Health (DOH) is set to receive an additional P56.87 billion, aimed at enhancing its Health Facility Enhancement Program, Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program, and improving specialty and legacy hospitals. A P1-billion budget has been earmarked for upgrading the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, a crucial facility in the country's healthcare system. 

"Healthcare is a fundamental right, and we must ensure that all Filipinos have access to quality medical services,” Co said.