Reduced budgets for basic services such as education and healthcare, while legislators get showered with billions for the AKAP (Ayuda Para Sa Kapos Ang Kita Program), begs the question: What is the Congress’ real priority?
On December 11, the Bicameral Conference Committee composed of legislators from both the House of Representative and Senate approved the 2025 National Budget submitting it to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. for signing.
But experts, advocates, and the thinking public are bothered by so many red flags from the approved budget.
‘Moronic’ thinking?
The hot issue being debated on public spaces is the legislators’ decision to allot zero subsidies for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), citing its “reserve fund” amounting to about P500 to P600 billion.
“Hindi puwedeng sisihin na nagkulang tayo sa pagbibigay sa kanila kasi nga ang daming pera na nandyan. Hindi nila pinamimigay 'yong pera doon sa mga nangangailangan, tinuturuan din natin sila ng leksyon,” Senate Finance Committee Chair Grace Poe was quoted as saying.
However, experts and advocates are quick to point out errors with this logic, as well as the possibility that several laws may have been violated.
For instance, Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act provides that PhilHealth subsidy must be included in the General Appropriations Act to cover the premium subsidy of the vulnerable sector who are not contributing themselves.
Then there’s the Sin Tax Reform Acts of 2012 and 2019 that sets 80 percent of tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages to PhilHealth, to finance the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act.
Concerns
Economist JC Punongbayan has this question: with zero subsidy for PhilHealth, where will the 80 percent be used?
"If PhilHealth is constrained to dip into its reserve funds next year, precisely because it will receive zero subsidies from the national government, then benefit expansion will almost surely be stymied. The logic can’t be plain enough. Chances are, PhilHealth will struggle to fund more comprehensive healthcare packages or include new treatments, drugs, or services in its coverage," Punongbayan added.
Prominent doctor and health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon has also posted an open letter to President Marcos, expressing his concern on what will be a worse healthcare crisis following the zero subsidy.
"When the government allocated zero subsidy for healthcare in 2025, you placed millions of Filipinos at risk, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. When the cries for support from those who depend on the Universal Health Care Law were met with silence, you betrayed the promise of a healthcare system that is meant to be universal, accessible, and equitable," Leachon wrote in his letter
It also seems as though that even with budget cuts, the corrupt and the incompetent at PhilHealth will remain rich and unafraid of tomorrow while the poor Filipinos will probably die of worrying before cancer kills them.
Goodbye computers?
For the Department of Education (DepEd), a disappointed former senator and DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara is facing the challenge of cleaning the mess caused by his predecessor, Vice President Sara Duterte.
In the approved budget, DepEd will receive P737 billion, suffering a budget cut of P12 billion from the Senate's approved budget which Angara claims is for the purchase of computers and gadgets.
Campaign funds?
As for the legislators themselves, the national budget is an early Christmas gift or a sweet treat.
The bicameral committee approved P21 billion for the House and P5 billion for the Senate - for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program or AKAP.
The House's original proposed budget was P39 billion.
AKAP is the controversial Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Program that grants cash assistance to workers.
In reality, these distributions can be done without the presence of senators and congressmen as their duty is to make laws and not be a “Santa Claus,” doling out money to a delighted populace.
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