P7.2T budget to focus on education, healthcare, upskilling, says Suansing

The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations will prioritize spending for quality education, healthcare, and workforce upskilling and ensure safeguards in the proposed P7.2 trillion national budget for 2027 to prevent the misuse of public funds.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Mika Suansing, the chairperson of the committee, said this as the chamber started deliberations on the proposed budget law.

"We will put adequate safeguards in the budget to ensure that it cannot be abused. Your Congress will ensure that the budget for the year 2027 is a budget you can trust," Suansing said in Filipino.

Suansing said that Congress will carefully look into the proposed budget so that the public can feel every peso.

"In this budget, that means prioritizing investments in quality education, healthcare, and workforce upskilling," Suansing said.

"Your Congress will ensure that our country's P7.2 trillion budget will not just remain on paper, but will be felt in the daily lives of every Filipino family," she added.

To ensure transparency in the budget, the House will continue to implement the reforms imposed during deliberations last year. This includes the creation of the Budget Amendments Review Sub-committee, which replaced the "small committee."

The deliberations were also livestreamed, and the bicameral conference committee proceedings were also made public.

"These important reforms reflect your Congress's stand to lift the veil on budget matters and truly show where every peso of tax—drawn from the blood and sweat of every Filipino—goes," Suansing said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said the proposed budget was developed from P11.690 trillion in funding proposals submitted by government agencies.

The President said the government reviewed the proposed programs and projects based on their expected impact and alignment with the country’s development priorities.

The proposed budget prioritizes education, healthcare, livelihood, national security, and community empowerment in line with the administration’s theme of “people-centered growth for an inclusive and resilient future." –NB, GMA News