‘We approved P7.2-trillion El Niño-ready budget’

ater drums and buckets are sold and placed into vehicles on the streets of Marikina City and Marcos Highway as demand for water containers has increased in preparation for an anticipated Super El Niño.

Walter Bollozos

MANILA, Philippines —  The proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 is prepared for the adverse effects of the super El Niño expected to persist until next year, the House of Representatives assured the public yesterday.

Speaker Faustino Dy III said the House’s approval on third and final reading of House Bill 10858, or the 2027 General Appropriations Bill, resulted in a “transparent, people-centered budget” that would provide Filipinos with “better services and programs.”

Public needs guided the chamber’s scrutiny of the spending proposal, Dy said, resulting in additional support for education, health care, transportation and El Niño preparations.

Rep. Mikaela Suansing, chairperson of the House appropriations committee, explained that lawmakers reinforced food security and agricultural livelihoods by allocating P10 billion for farmers and fisherfolk and P4.96 billion for farm-to-market roads.

Other agricultural allocations include P150 million for the Agri-Transport System, P125 million for solar-powered irrigation pumps, P105 million for hybrid solar-powered ice plants and P100 million for high-value crops, particularly ube.

The House also approved an additional P10.06 billion for education programs supporting school safety, inclusive learning, academic recovery and access to tertiary education.

For transportation, Dy cited an additional P500 million for the Service Contracting Program and P1 billion in fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle drivers and operators, tricycle drivers, delivery riders and other transport service providers.

The House-approved budget includes about P116 billion in amendments to strengthen public services. It retains the P1.107-trillion allocation for the Department of Education, including P10.055 billion for scholarships, school safety, learning recovery and inclusive education.

In health care, lawmakers allocated P23.97 billion for the Medical Assistance Program, P1.55 billion for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program and P50 million for Department of Health regional hospital operations.

An additional P1.8 billion was provided for nationally procured commodities to strengthen communicable disease prevention and control. - Rhodina Villanueva, Helen Flores