By Brian Campued
“Hindi pera ng gobyerno ito, pera ng [taumbayan] ito. Kaya’t tinitiyak natin na tama ang gawa.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the realignment of the P255.5 billion proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), originally intended for locally-funded flood control projects next year, to other agencies.
During his visit to San Fernando City in La Union on Friday, the President emphasized that the flood control funds would be reallocated to priority programs such as social services, education, health, agriculture, transportation, and livelihood, among others.
According to Marcos, the DPWH’s budget needed to be slashed to remove funding for anomalous and questionable flood control projects.
“Kaya’t itinigil ko lahat ‘yan para matiyak natin na tama naman ang paggamit ng pera ninyo dahil pera ninyo ito,” he stressed. “Ilalagay natin sa lahat ng pagtutulong, lahat ng benefits para sa ating mga kababayan.”
During another visit to Gonzaga, Cagayan on Saturday, the President clarified that flood control projects will still push through in 2026, as there is some P300 billion from 2025 that is yet to be fully spent.
“So, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang magiging flood control project hanggang sa susunod na taon at mayroon naman tayo na ia-approve na flood control project… basta’t nakita natin ay maayos ang proposal, maayos ang program of work, maayos ang completion, may acceptance ng local government,” he said.
In a news release, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) enumerated how much various agencies will receive from the P255-billion budget:
- P35.91 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Assistance for Individuals in Crisis (AICS), Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Disability Inclusive Social Protection of Children, and the Mindanao Disaster Resource Center
- P26.55 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) for construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, school-based feeding programs, education of indigenous peoples, Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program, salary of non-DepEd ARAL tutors, flexible learning options, Madrasah Education, and Special Needs Education Program
- P39.37 billion to the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) for post-harvest facilities, assistance to farmers and fisherfolk, crop insurance, deep water porters, fishport construction, mechanization, cold storage facilities, logistics support, among others
- P29.28 billion to the Department of Health (DOH) for Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program, support for legacy and specialty hospitals, and treatment for children with cancer at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center
- P60 billion to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Centers, and Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment
- P9.3 billion to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for tertiary subsidy and the Tulong Dunong Program
- P1 billion to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
- P450 million to the Philippine Science High School System
- P3 billion to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), bike lanes, and patrol vessels
- P18 billion to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program and the Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program
- P600 million to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for the Beneficiaries’ Development and Sustainability Program and Land Tenure Security Program
- P1.298 billion to the Department of National Defense (DND) for cyber defense and Palawan forward base
- P7.4 billion to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections
In his speech during the distribution of relief and recovery assistance to individuals affected by Super Typhoon Nando in Cagayan, Marcos said P5 billion will go to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for its irrigation systems, while almost P2.5 billion will be reallocated to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to support the expansion of Free Wi-Fi for All Program and digitalization efforts of the government.
“Para po pagka mayroon kayong kailangan, mag-renew ng lisensya, pagka may kailangan kayo magbabayad kayo ng buwis, hindi ninyo na kailangan puntahan ‘yung mga opisina. Hindi ninyo na kailangan ka-deal ‘yung mga fixer,” Marcos said. “Binabawasan po natin ‘yan dahil napakahirap sa taumbayan. Kaya iyan po ang ating nilaan sa ating DICT para gumanda ang sistema na ‘yon.”
Meanwhile, around P4.62 million will go to the Department of Energy (DOE) for its electrification program; P135 million to the Department of Finance (DOF) for anti-agricultural smuggling efforts; and P240 million to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the creation of a waste-to-energy facility.
The Chief Executive underscored the government’s responsibility to ensure that public funds will really translate to better services for the people.
“Kami po ay kung tawagin ay ‘custodian’ lang, tiga-bantay lang kami sa pera ninyo. Hindi nagiging amin… Hindi dapat maging—hindi amin ‘yan,” Marcos said.
“Pero sa amin, ang responsibilidad, ang katungkulan na tiyakin na ang bawat sentimo ay mapupunta sa maganda para pagandahin po ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan, para pagandahin po maging mas maginhawa ang buhay ng inyong mga pamilya, para po sa pagpaganda at pag-usbong ng ating ginagawa, na binubuo na Bagong Pilipinas,” he added.
-jpv
