By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
The House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday approved with amendments House Bill 4058, or the proposed P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2026.
The panel, chaired by Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, also approved the committee report containing the Budget Amendment and Review Subcommittee’s (BARSc) reallocation of the P255.53 billion budget, slashed from the flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
A total of 113 members and ex officio members were present at the executive committee meeting, which endorsed the measure for plenary deliberations.
Suansing said the measure reflects transparency and accountability, emphasizing that funds must be directed to human capital development.
“Our task ahead is to ensure that every peso appropriated in this P6.79 trillion budget is invested where it matters most towards uplifting lives, protecting communities and securing our nation’s economic future for generations to come,” she said.
For education, lawmakers approved a total of P37.3 billion in additional funding, including the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS).
Some of the reallocations include DepEd’s Basic Education Facilities Program, which received P22.5 billion to build and complete 19,360 classrooms.
CHED’s Tertiary Education Subsidy was given P6.619 billion to cover nearly half a million grantees and P2.693 billion for the Tulong Dunong Program.
TESDA obtained P635.2 million for special training and P356 million for scholarships; and PSHSS was given an additional P100 million for scholarship programs and P350 million for the improvement, construction, and rehabilitation of its facilities.
Health programs cornered the largest share at P89.281 billion, which includes Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) returned funding of P60 billion to expand benefit packages and improve member coverage.
Some of the Department of Health’s (DOH) additional allocation includes P2.4 billion for the completion of specialty hospitals, including the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and Philippine Cancer Center.
Another P26.731 billion went to the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients Program.
Agriculture was reallocated P44.9 billion to support food production and farmers.
The Department of Agriculture (D.A.) received P8.898 billion for farm-to-market roads; P7 billion in direct assistance for 1 million farmers; P8.693 billion for National Food Authority (NFA) postharvest facilities; P4.076 billion for solar-powered irrigation; and P2.4 billion for deep-water ports, among others.
Funds were also realigned for cold storage facilities amounting to P1.5 billion, fish ports at P2 billion and soil health programs at P1 billion, among others.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) obtained P5 billion for national, communal, and pump irrigation systems.
The BARSc also reallocated P250 million for the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Bridge Program, and P350 million for its Land Tenure Security Program.
Outside the three priority sectors, other agencies also gained significant funding.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was reallocated P32.063 billion for its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program; P500 million under the Multi-Year Contractual Authority for the Mindanao Disaster Resource Center Phase 1; and P275 million for five regional Bahay Pag-asa facilities.
For jobs and labor, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) obtained an additional P14.819 billion to expand the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) Workers program; and P3.312 billion for the Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program.
Infrastructure and transport projects were also allotted with P266.441 million set for MRT-3 operations and maintenance.
Defense, justice, energy, and security programs also gained funds, including the funding implementation of P66 million for the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarer Act, and P4 billion for the Sitio Electrification Program.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) received P79.46 million for the “Konektadong Pinoy Act,” and P1 billion for the National Broadband Program.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secured P1.81 million for protected area management and P34.089 million for climate programs, while an additional P1 billion was approved for Project NOAH.
