MANILA, Philippines – Dahil sa hindi pa nareresolbang isyu sa budget, iginiit ng Makabayan Bloc ang muling pagconvene ng Bicameral conference committee.
Sa isang statement sinabi nina ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, at Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel na hindi wasto ang naging alokasyon sa ipang social programs sa ilalim ng 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
“The approved budget not only slashes critical funding for social services but also bloats discretionary funds and pork barrel allotments, prioritizing the ambitions of the political elite over the needs of ordinary Filipinos. The bicameral committee’s deliberation despite being televised, was riddled with opacity. The public was kept in the dark about the specific amendments, their justifications, and their impacts on urgent social services,”nakasaad sa statement.
Nanawagan ang Makabayan Bloc.sa House at Senate leadership na pakinggan ang hinaing ng publiko ukol sa budget.
Iginiit ng Makabayan na dapat ibalik amg budget na kinaltas mula sa social services at ang tanggalin ay ang pork barrel allotments.
Puna ng Makabayan umiiral sa 2025 budget ang ayuda.politics dahil mas pinili na ipagpatuloy ang Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) allocations sa halip na pondohan ang healthcare system.
Ipinaliwanag ng Makabayan Bloc na hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na irerebyu ang bicameral conference committee report na naaprubahan na, anila, nagawa na ito sa Magna Carta for Seafarers.
“We note that reconvening a bicameral conference committee to address flaws in its report is not unprecedented. The bicam for the Magna Carta for Seafarers was reconvened three times, even after ratification, in order to address certain alleged flaws before it was signed into law by the President,” pagtatapos pa ng Makabayan. Gail Mendoza
