2025 budget to undergo rigorous scrutiny, says lawmaker

Rep. Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol
Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations | PHOTO: Official Facebook Page of Rep. Zaldy Co

MANILA, Philippines — The P6.352 trillion proposed national budget for 2025 will be discussed thoroughly and scrutinized by the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co said on Wednesday.

Co in a statement said that they will ensure that every peso allocated in the National Expenditures Program (NEP) will be spent for the people, and are aligned with national priorities.

READ: Marcos OKs P6.352 trillion National Expenditure Program for 2025

“The House of Representatives is fully prepared to receive the approved 2025 National Expenditure Program. The NEP will undergo rigorous scrutiny to ensure that every peso allocated is judiciously spent and aligned with our national priorities,” Co, who is chairperson of the appropriations panel, said.

“The appropriations committee will do a comprehensive hearing in Congress, along with different stakeholders, government agencies, and experts to ensure that there will be transparency, accountability, and an effective use of funds,” he added.

READ: 2025 budget approval a House priority, says Romualdez

Co’s statements came a day after the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the P6.352 trillion NEP for 2025.

The 2025 NEP is P584 billion higher than the 2024 budget, which was at P5.768 trillion.

According to Co, they will ensure that the Legacy Projects of the Marcos administration get adequate support.

Legacy Projects

“Our primary goal is to craft a budget that truly serves the people. We are committed to ensure that the 2025 budget addresses the essential needs of our citizens, promotes sustainable development, and drives our nation toward progress and prosperity. We will ensure that the Legacy Projects of President Marcos—the Legacy Specialty Hospitals, Legacy on Food Security at Legacy Housing for the poor—will continue,” he said.

“We will also ensure that vital sectors like education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social services receive adequate funding to improve the quality of life of all Filipinos,” he added.

Co also assured the public that his committee will craft a budget that will support the country’s economic progress and at the same time, will promote inclusive growth.

“We will meticulously examine the NEP to guarantee that it reflects the aspirations and needs of our people.  In this light, we will try to create a budget that is not only supportive of economic development, but one that will also promote inclusivity and social justice,” he said.

“Our dedication to this process underscores our commitment to a transparent, accountable, and people-centric approach to governance,” he added.

Earlier, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez also said that passing the General Appropriations Bill (GAB)—or the House version of the NEP—will be a priority. Romualdez said that they will approve the budget on time—or before Congress adjourns its session in September 2024.

Romualdez said the House would ensure that there is enough funding for education, agriculture, the modernization and welfare programs of the armed forces, infrastructure, and the legacy projects of the administration.