A small committee tasked by the House of Representatives with introducing individual and institutional amendments to the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) has earmarked P292.23 billion to enhance social services, strengthen social safety nets, and ensure food security.
Ako Bicol Party-list Representative and appropriations committee chairman Zaldy Co said the funding package within the P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget aims to address the pressing needs of vulnerable sectors, including financially challenged students, farmers, fisherfolk, soldiers, indigent families, and those who barely passed the poverty threshold.
"The additional funding is crucial for supporting those in need. We're assisting struggling families, especially during these challenging times," said Co.
The new funding is on top of the P591.8 billion already set aside by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for cash assistance to impoverished families.
Among the key enhancements in the 2025 GAB is the extra P39.8 billion for Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), which is designed to offer immediate support to those facing financial hardships.
Due to the wide acceptance and public clamor for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), the House earmarked another P39.8 billion for cash assistance, targetting those who earn P21,000 and below per month. The amount is three times bigger than the 2024 allocation of P13 billion.
Co said AKAP is designed for the "near poor" or "lower middle class" segment of the population that includes minimum wage earners vulnerable to economic shocks like the sudden death of household head, sickness, loss of jobs, or runaway inflation that can easily send them back to poverty.
The House also allocated P3.4 billion for the Sustainable Livelihood Program for low-income families. "We believe that empowering individuals through livelihood programs will help break the cycle of poverty," Co added.
Marikina Representative and Appropriations Committee senior vice chairman Stella Quimbo stressed the importance of proactive measures in the proposed budget. She said the Department of Labor and Employment will receive an additional P20.28 billion for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and the Government Internship Program.
"We must have funds on standby to support those who have crossed the poverty threshold to prevent them from falling back into poverty due to economic challenges. This budget is not just about numbers; it's about the lives we can uplift," Quimbo said.
In further efforts to support education, the House panel allocated P30.01 billion more to provide scholarships for underprivileged students pursuing tertiary education. This funding will be split evenly between the Commission on Higher Education's Tertiary Education Subsidy and Tulong Dunong programs.
"Investing in education is investing in the future. Every child deserves the chance to learn and succeed," said Quimbo, a former professor of economics at the University of the Philippines and a visiting professor at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
An additional P7 billion budget will benefit the Department of Education for the construction of new school facilities and the repair of existing ones. This funding aims to address the pressing need for improved educational infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, Co said.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will gain P8.44 billion in additional funding to increase the subsistence allowances of military personnel. Once approved, the daily subsistence of soldiers will rise to P250 or a 67% hike from previous levels.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez initiated the extra funding for enlisted men's daily subsistence in response to appeals by military personnel he regularly meets in the field.
"Our soldiers deserve the extra allowance. This is a small price to pay for their sacrifice and for defending our country from internal and external threats," Romualdez stressed.
The AFP will also get P3.2 billion more to complete the airport expansion on Pag-asa Island and a sheltered port in Lawak, Palawan. These support efforts to defend the West Philippine Sea against continuing Chinese intrusion.
"Investing in our military supports our soldiers and strengthens our national security and sovereignty. This also underscores our commitment to protect our territorial integrity," Co added.
The panel realigned P30 billion for the Department of Agriculture's Philippine Irrigation Network Piping System, solar-powered irrigation systems, and cold storage projects to enhance food security.
"Food security is a priority for our nation, and these investments will help ensure our farmers can thrive," Co stated.
Additionally, P44 billion has been added to the National Irrigation Administration's budget for establishing pump irrigation and solar-driven pump irrigation projects.
The Department of Health is set to receive an additional P56.87 billion to enhance its Health Facility Enhancement Program, Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program, and improve specialty and legacy hospitals. A P1 billion budget has been earmarked for upgrading the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, a crucial facility in the country's healthcare system.
"Healthcare is a fundamental right, and we must ensure that all Filipinos have access to quality medical services," Co said.
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