1Sambayan: DepEd, PhilHealth 2025 budget ‘most glaring anomalies’
MANILA, Philippines — The funds allocated for the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) are deemed as the “two most glaring anomalies” in the proposed 2025 budget, a coalition said on Saturday.
According to 1Sambayan, the budgetary allocation for DepEd and PhilHealth is a violation to the 1987 Constitution.
The coalition pointed out the P1.1 trillion budget given to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) while DepEd will receive P737 bullion.
The Article XIV Section 5(5) of the 1989 Constitution states that “[t]he State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.”
The 1Sambayan also said that the zero subsidy allocated for PhilHealth violates Article XIII Section 11 which states that “[t]here should be priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to pauper.”
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Article continues after this advertisementSenator Grace Poe previously said that PhilHealth will receive a zero subsidy in 2025 due to its P600 billion reserve funds. She added that the state health insurer’s budget is among the contentious provisions of the 2025 budget bill.
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Further, the coalition urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconvene the Congress to “correct the glaring anomalies in the proposed 2025 GAA [General Appropriations Act].”
“If not corrected, the proposed 2025 GAA will come down as the most corrupt national budget in Philippine history,” 1Sambayan said in its statement.
1Sambayan also pointed out the budget increases for the DPWH for projects such as more flood control projects and re-blocking of roads “promote graft and corruption in government.”
