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00:00Live from the GMA Network Center, 20 years in the making, 24 Hours.
00:11Good evening Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
00:15President Bongbong Marcos has already signed the more than P6 trillion national fund in 2025.
00:23It is lower than the first approved in the BICAM after he vetoed the nearly P200 billion worth of projects.
00:32The controversial fund of ACAP or Ayuda for Kaposangkita remained in the national budget.
00:38But the conditions were tightened for this.
00:41Ivan Mairena was on the spot.
00:45The signed 2025 General Appropriations Act will increase the budget for the next year.
00:51P6.326 trillion.
00:54It is lower than P26 billion in the approved budget of the Bicameral Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
00:59The President did not approve the P26 billion worth of projects under the DPWH, added by the Congress in their version.
01:09Now it is P168 billion that is part of the unprogrammed appropriations.
01:12After an exhaustive and thorough review, we have directly vetoed over P194 billion worth of the line items that are not consistent with our program priorities.
01:25These include allocations for certain programs and projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways and those under the unprogrammed appropriations which increased by 300 percent.
01:36Under the approval of the DPWH, it is now clear that the allocation of funds for the education sector is the largest according to Palacio.
01:46This is one of the reasons why the budget of the Bicam was approved.
01:50This is contrary to the Constitution which states that the budget for education should be the largest.
01:56According to the 6.326 trillion budget, 1.055 trillion or 16.69 percent is for education.
02:05This includes the funds of CHED, TESDA, State Universities and Colleges and will be part of the funds for the high wages of teachers and the construction of classrooms.
02:14There is an increase of more than P10 billion for the computerization program of the DepEd.
02:18And it will not be returned. But according to the DBM, this is one of the priorities of the funding under the unprogrammed appropriations.
02:26Under the budget, we have certain funds that we can augment our budget.
02:34For example, the unprogrammed appropriations, as long as we have additional revenue from the DOF, we can actually augment or increase the budget of DepEd, specifically for computerization.
02:481.007 trillion or 15.93 percent is the final budget for DPWH.
02:54The projects that have been vetoed are actually some of the projects that we consider that are not totally supportive to the 8-point socioeconomic agenda of the government, of this administration.
03:10And besides, I think many of these projects are projects that need to be scrutinized and ready for implementation.
03:23These are some of the projects that are not ready for implementation.
03:26Meanwhile, aside from DepEd and DPWH, more than 4 percent is allocated to the Department of National Defense, Interior of Local Government, and Health.
03:35More than 3 percent is allocated to the Department of Agriculture and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
03:40More than 1 percent is allocated to the Department of Transportation and Judiciary.
03:44Less than 1 percent is allocated to the Department of Justice, Labor and Employment, and 42 percent is allocated to other departments.
03:50This did not happen, but the conditions for the issuance of a fund for the controversial fund of ACAP or aid for the end of income of DSWD, DOLE, and NEDA, which was allocated 26 billion pesos, were tightened.
04:04I am saying this because the aid should not go to the congresses and their pork barrel can only be used.
04:10We are compelled to subject the implementation of the Ayuda sa Kapus ng Kita Program or ACAP to the convergence efforts of the DSWD, DOLE, and NEDA.
04:23This way, we ensure that its implementation will be strategic, leading to the long-term improvement of the lives of qualified beneficiaries while guarding against misuse and duplication and fragmented benefits.
04:40Aside from ACAP, there are 11 other projects that will be tightened.
04:45The Zero Subsidy for PhilHealth, which was also one of the projects that was budgeted by the BICAM, has not been returned and remains zero.
04:52But there is nothing to worry about because PhilHealth's service will not only continue, but will expand in spite of the government's Zero Subsidy.
05:00The corporate operating budget of PhilHealth is sufficient.
05:04So they have reserved funds of roughly 280 billion.
05:07We in the Department of Finance, next year, will focus on PhilHealth.
05:12We will make sure that we spend that budget better.
05:17Maybe we should concentrate on the top 10 illnesses.
05:20I don't think you have to increase 9,000 case rates.
05:23The budget of the Office of the President includes 5.2 billion pesos.
05:27But this is only for the start of preparations for the hosting of the ASEAN Summit of the Philippines in 2026.
05:34For GMA Integrated News, Ivan Mejrina reporting for 24 Hours.
05:39Some groups protested their questioning of the President's 2025 General Appropriations Act,
05:49as well as the retention of funds for the controversial ACAP program.
05:54And MAV Gonzales is reporting.
05:56Even though it's raining, some groups rallied in Mendiola to condemn the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
06:05The police ordered the Mendiola Police Arch while the groups were programming on the streets.
06:11According to Makabayan Block, it seems that the President just made a live veto
06:16because some people were angry with the reduction of funds for education.
06:19That's what he's thinking. Let's move this here, let's add this here so that people won't be angry.
06:26If you just make a few line items, he needs to pass it.
06:30ACT Teacher's Party List Representative Franz Castro also questioned the ACAP program,
06:34which has been in the budget for two years.
06:37Who will really go to this ACAP?
06:41The services should be increased in exchange for the workers' assistance.
06:50According to Palacio, there are ways to monitor the use of funds.
07:11If you have a bad faith, that's when you come now, your religion or the people you agree with.
07:17Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas also questioned the large fund for military infrastructure,
07:24which is not the primary need of the people.
07:27The two lawmakers have not yet seen their vetoes of the President,
07:32but there are things that need to be answered to ensure that the 2025 National Budget is constitutional.
07:37According to Senate President Cheese Escudero,
07:40even if it takes a long time, it's important to sign the 2025 Act before the year ends so that there won't be a re-enacted budget.
07:49Now that the budget has passed, the government's programs should be implemented immediately.
07:54Senate Finance Committee Chair Senator Grace Poe added,
07:57safeguard against misuse and duplication of benefits, the conditional implementation of the ACAP program.
08:03Low-income earners will still receive assistance under the clearer guidelines of the ACAP.
08:09The economic team and the PhilHealth Board also assured that their surplus and reserve funds are sufficient
08:15to cover indirect contributors and to improve their benefit packages.
08:20This is in line with the view of the Congress,
08:23that PhilHealth should first spend their standby funds before asking for additional subsidies.
08:28Senate Minority Leader Coco Pimentel was pleased that the President reduced the overall importance of the 2025 National Budget,
08:37but he hoped that the unprogrammed appropriations would be reduced and returned to the level first requested by the President.
08:44The Palace has confidence in the budget signed by the President,
08:48but admitted that the obstacles here cannot be stopped.
08:51We are confident, but we cannot prevent.
08:54If there will be challenges that will be mounted by any quarter,
09:00who might still find this present budget as approved, worthy of the challenge.
