Deputy Speaker David Suarez
MANILA, Philippines — There is no need to withdraw the enrolled version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), or the proposed 2025 budget, from Malacañang, Deputy Speaker David Suarez said on Tuesday.
In an interview at the House of Representatives’ People’s Center, Suarez was asked about concerns raised by groups and netizens about the budget cuts suffered by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Due to the concerns, the Makabayan bloc has called for the reconvening of the bicameral conference committee to amend provisions in the GAB.
According to Suarez though, their work at the bicam is “done.”
“We’ve ratified the 2025 General Appropriations Act. So now it’s under review of the executive and it’s due for signature, I think, before Christmas,” Suarez told reporters.
“As of this point, we have not received this kind of news about the bicam reconvening. I don’t think there’s any need for us to reconvene as a bicam because we’ve already ratified it in both chambers, so both the Senate and the House. So we’re very satisfied with the versions,” he added.
With regards to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to address issues in the DepEd budget, Suarez said they would “just wait for it.”
Last August 12, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said that the P10-billion cut in DepEd’s proposed 2025 budget proves that the Marcos administration has an anti-education policy.
According to Castro, the United Nations’ recommendation of allocating 6 percent of a country’s gross domestic product to education was supposedly not followed.
READ: DepEd budget cut screams admin’s anti-education policy — Castro
Castro’s rant came after Education Secretary Sonny Angara complained about the budget cut, which hinders the DepEd’s computerization project.
READ: Angara: Marcos to remedy huge DepEd budget cut
On Monday, Marcos said he is working on restoring the P10 billion in DepEd’s proposed 2025 budget, adding that the budget cut goes contrary to the government’s policy direction.
While Marcos did not announce how he will address the concern, he said he intends to restore the budget without having to veto any line item.
READ: Marcos says he’s working on restoring DepEd budget cut
Suarez said they have to manage limited resources despite the seemingly infinite needs of agencies.
“You know, that’s the tricky part when it comes to budget. You know agencies always want to have more, but unfortunately, because our resources are limited, the balancing act for Congress becomes very tricky,” he explained.
“We go through this process yearly, but I believe in the 2025 budget version that we passed. The government and the country can rest assured that the programs, the projects, and the policies to further push the country forward will be implemented well,” he added.
Netizens also expressed their concerns about PhilHealth, as it was given zero government subsidy for 2025.
Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V said the claim that PhilHealth would not have any funds for 2025 is “fake news” as it still has around P600 billion in reserve funds.
READ: PhilHealth has zero subsidy for 2025 due to P600B reserve funds
Acidre also noted that providing assistance for PhilHealth members and beneficiaries would not stop, as the state-run insurer’s funds can last up to two years.
READ: PhilHealth funds enough, can last for 2 years – lawmakers