Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel (PPAB)

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel criticized the ratification of the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the proposed P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget, as he cited changes in funding allocations that “take the country further away from true progress”.

It was around 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 during the plenary session when the House of Representatives ratified the final version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or national budget.

The Senate did the same during its own plenary session at around 8:30 p.m.

In his manifestation in plenary following the GAB's ratification, Manuel cited the funding changes in the proposed budget for next year, which he insisted were “not for the better”.

The youth lawmaker called out the decreased budget for agencies in the education sector, specifically the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).

“Nakakapagtaka po ito lalo na habang tayo ay hindi pa nakakaahon sa education crisis pero itong mga ahensya na siyang may direktang mandato sa pagtiyak ng access at kalidad ng ating edukasyon ay kinaltasan pa ng budget ng bicam,” he said.

(This is surprising, especially since we have not yet recovered from the education crisis, but these agencies, which have a direct mandate to ensure access to and quality of our education, have had their budgets cut by the bicam.)

Manuel, a member of the militant Makabayan bloc, said agencies involved in social services likewise faced budget cuts.

For the health sector, he said the defunding of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) was a big challenge for the agency to live up to its obligations. However, he found it surprising that the budget of the Department of Health (DOH) was also reduced.

“So how can we expect to have better healthcare services kung merong P25.8-trillion budget cut sa DOH kung ikukumpara yung bicam version sa NEP (National Expenditure Program) ng ating national budget?” the congressman asked.

(So how can we expect to have better healthcare services if there is a P25.8-trillion budget cut for the DOH when comparing the bicam version to the NEP of our national budget?)

With these budget cuts on crucial public services, Manuel emphasized that the “big winners” in the proposed budget for next year were the big-ticket infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the unprogrammed appropriations.

“Matitriple mula NEP papuntang bicam ang unprogrammed apporpriations mula P158.7 billion papuntang P531.7 billion. Dito rin ba napunta yung ilang items na kinaltas mula sa programmed appropriations kagaya ng sa education?” he asked.

(The unprogrammed appropriations will triple from P158.7 billion in the NEP to P531.7 billion in the bicam version. Is this also where some items cut from the programmed appropriations, like those for education, ended up ?)

“Tumaas pa po ang pondo ng Office of the President by P5.4 billion kaya from P10 billion magiging P15.8 billion ang pondo ng Office of the President. Kaya ang tanong po natin, saan mapupunta ang pondo na yan?” he added.

(The Office of the President's budget increased by P5.4 billion, so from P10 billion, the budget will become P15.8 billion. So our question is, where will that fund go?)

Manuel pointed out that the GAB “still has many red flags”, citing how public services are now more vulnerable.

After the ratification of both chambers of Congress, the proposed budget for next year will be sent to Malacañang for the signature of President Marcos.