Senate to scrutinize reallocations in HGAB, says Ejercito

MANILA, Philippines — Senate finance panel chairperson Sen. JV Ejercito said the Senate will scrutinize the budget realignments in the House General Appropriations Bill, which cut budgets on major government programs.

In a press briefing, Ejercito confirmed major changes in the House GAB including the P130 billion cut on the Foreign Assistance Projects and a P9.5 billion reduction on calamity funds.

“Striking para sa’kin lalong-lalo na ‘yung pagtatanggal sa malalaking programa,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

(What strikes me most is the removal of funding from major programs.)

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

READ: House approves P7.2-trillion 2027 budget bill on final reading

“Nag aalala ako dito kasi meron tayong impending super el nino coming ng end of this year and early part of next year,” he added, referring to the calamity fund.

(I am worrying about this because we have an impending super El Nino coming by the end of this year and early part of next year.)

Ejercito also mentioned the reduction of budget allocations of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood mitigation structures within major river basins, scrapping P4.6 billion of its allocated budget.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Senate won’t have leadership fund, finance panel head Ejercito vows

About P4.4 billion budget was also cut to the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) and immunization programs, which was supposed to fund the improvement and expansion of health facilities and medical equipment.

Article continues after this advertisement

The budget cuts also reduced DOH’s immunization programs by P2 billion, potentially affecting vaccination drives and health promotion efforts, undermining the importance of preventive measures which  can help reduce expenditures for affected families and the government.

“Kailangan natin palakasin ito, para sa ganon, hindi lumala ang sakit, hindi magastos sa pamilya and hindi din magastos sa gobyerno,” he said, reminding that one of the key features of the Universal Health Care (UHC) is strengthening the preventive side.

(We need to strengthen this so that illnesses do not worsen, families do not incur high medical expenses, and the government does not have to spend as much either.)

The cut from HFEPs also interfered with their plans to improve healthcare facilities run by provincial and local sites, noting that while DOH hospitals are well funded, the establishment of service delivery networks must still be strengthened.  

“These are the things that we will be scrutinizing during our budget here in the Senate,” he added.

Budget increases

Ejercito noted that the House GAB reallocated P23.9 million in additional funds for medical assistance programs received an additional P23.9 billion.

He pointed out the decrease in immunization funds and the increase in health subsidies contradict UHC’s call for stronger preventive measures.

Ejercito also mentioned the budget allocations for the DPWH projects, saying that the department must be asked about the new flood mitigation structures, that received an increase of P8.04 billion.

Construction and Maintenance Rehabilitation Widening also increased by P13 billion.

“Marami tayong dapat busisiin pa,” Ejercito said, noting that the Senate will make sure to maximize its fiscal space.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

(We still have a lot to scrutinize.) (Martina Nieyandra Calica/INQUIRER.net trainee) /mr