Budget in line with gov’t agenda

THE PROPOSED P6.352-trillion national budget for next year is still consistent with the Marcos administration’s socioeconomic development plan despite budget cuts to several socioeconomic agencies, a congressman said, citing convergence programs among them.

The 2025 national budget was crafted with the goal of achieving “economic and social transformation” by meeting the objectives set under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, according to a summary from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program, the DBM slashed the proposed budgets for agriculture, health, and social welfare by 4.7%, 7.6%, and 3.4%, respectively. Allocations for labor were also decreased by 26.1%, with trade and industry receiving a 3.9% cut.

“We have a lot of interrelated projects. While you may see a slash in a certain department, sometimes they’re boosted by programs which fall under other departments,” Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez said in a media briefing on Tuesday.

“For example, we’re talking about the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Works and Highways, the component of the flood control projects now also includes rainwater catchment so that actually comes into irrigation,” he added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio