MANILA – The House of Representatives approved on second reading Wednesday, October 7, House Bill No. 10858, or the proposed Php 7.2-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2027, introducing amendments aimed at strengthening education, agriculture, transportation, healthcare and social welfare programs.
House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing said the proposed adjustments seek to address the needs of Filipinos while preparing the country for the anticipated effects of Super El Niño.
For education, lawmakers proposed an additional Php 2.1 billion for the Tertiary Education Subsidy, Php 1.77 billion for the Tulong Dunong Program and Php 500 million for the School Safety and Security Program.
The allocations for Tulong Dunong and school safety were recommended by the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc).
The agriculture sector is also set to receive additional funding, including Php 10 billion for the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk, Php 4.96 billion for farm-to-market roads and Php 4.09 billion for irrigation projects.
Additional allocations were proposed for fertilizer assistance, agricultural transport infrastructure, high-value crops and climate-resilient farming initiatives.
According to Suansing, the total additional agricultural funding approved by the House and recommended by the BARSc reached Php 20.86 billion.
For transportation, the proposed amendments include Php 1 billion for fuel subsidies, Php 250 million for service contracting and another Php 250 million for capital outlay.
Suansing noted that the fuel subsidy and service-contracting programs had no allocations under the original National Expenditure Program (NEP).
The House also proposed increasing the budget for the Medical Assistance Program to help cover hospitalization expenses.
Meanwhile, additional funding was introduced for social welfare initiatives, including Project ProtecTEEN, Project Aruga, Project SAFE and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Special Committee on LGBTQIA+.
Other proposed amendments seek to expand sitio electrification, improve electricity distribution facilities and revise the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance provision to specify a minimum monthly allowance of Php 2,000.
The proposed budget remains subject to further legislative approval before it can become law.
The House is scheduled to deliberate on the measure for third and final reading on October 12, 2026.
