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By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, <\/b>Journalist<\/i><\/p>\n
A HOUSE of Representatives committee on <\/span>Monday initiated the transfer of billions in flood control finances to the education and health sectors as they commenced amending the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.<\/p>\n The House sub-committee on Budget Amendments Review diverted P255 billion in flood control financing initially designated for the Public Works department next year towards the Health and Education departments, in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.\u2019s appeal to bolster human capital growth.<\/p>\n \u201cWe aim to guarantee that we can redistribute it in such a way that the budget will be most attentive to the requirements of the Filipino populace,\u201d stated Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, who leads the House Appropriations Committee.<\/span><\/p>\n The redirection follows claims of irregularities in flood control initiatives, including inferior, incomplete, or nonexistent infrastructure, in a nation susceptible to flooding.<\/p>\n The House sub-committee in charge of funding reallocation is part of a larger initiative to enhance transparency in budget discussions, replacing the formerly unclear \u201csmall committee\u201d that <\/span>managed amendments to the national expenditure bill.<\/span><\/p>\n The House will initiate plenary discussions on the proposed national spending plan today (Sept. 23), Ms. Suansing mentioned, over a month after the Budget department presented the National Expenditure Program to Congress.<\/p>\n Ms. Suansing noted that deliberations on the budget will persist until the House passes the budget bill <\/span>on second reading prior to the conclusion of September.<\/span><\/p>\n Lawmakers increased the Department of Education\u2019s (DepEd) suggested budget by 2.8% or P26.54 billion to P955.04 billion for 2026.<\/p>\n The majority of the proposed funding augmentation would be directed towards DepEd\u2019s classroom construction initiatives amid a deficit of government schools, more than doubling the budget allocation to P36.5 billion from P13.2 billion.<\/p>\n The increase in classroom construction budget could support the creation of an additional 19,300 classrooms nationwide, aiding in alleviating classroom shortages in government schools, Party-list Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares, vice-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, informed lawmakers.<\/span><\/p>\n Additional funding was allocated for other programs including the school-based feeding initiative (P1.5 billion), extra compensation for teachers offering tutoring (P984.11 million), and overload pay for teachers (P579.55 million), among others.<\/p>\n The House sub-committee also separately added P6.61 billion to the Commission on Higher Education\u2019s (CHED) Tertiary Education Subsidy, totaling P22.17 billion, and raised the Tulong Dunong Program budget by P2.69 billion.<\/p>\n CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis previously informed lawmakers that nearly 300,000 college students could be deprived of government grants if Congress does not augment the budget for the programs that finance the full or partial costs of college education for students enrolled in state universities.<\/span><\/p>\n Legislators also amplified the Department of Health\u2019s proposed budget for the next year by 3.2%, raising it to P948.07 billion from the initially allocated P918.79 billion under the National Expenditure Program.<\/p>\n Of this total, P26.73 billion will be allocated towards the government’s health financial assistance for impoverished patients, with P2.4 billion designated for the completion of essential government hospitals across the country.<\/p>\n Congressmen also adjusted the government\u2019s allocation for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to P60 billion, aligning with Mr. Marcos\u2019 instruction to restore part of the P89.9 billion the National Government withdrew from the state health insurer last year.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis aligns with the declaration\u2026 to return what was withdrawn from PhilHealth\u2019s budget,\u201d Surigao del Sur Rep. Romeo S. Momo, Sr., vice-chairman of the House appropriations panel, conveyed to lawmakers.<\/p>\n The Budget department is \u201cworking on identifying the suitable funding source to effect the return\u201d of the P60 billion PhilHealth funds, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman informed BusinessWorld<\/i>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile other alternatives \u2014 such as utilizing savings, unprogrammed appropriations, or a supplemental budget \u2014 are present under the current budgetary frameworks, these are bound by strict constitutional and legal stipulations,\u201d she stated, emphasizing that providing funding to PhilHealth through Congress is the \u201cclearest and most transparent approach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lawmakers also increased the Social Welfare department\u2019s budget for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program by P32 billion, totaling P59.04 billion. AICS offers financial support to individuals facing crises, including medical, burial, transportation, and educational aid.<\/p>\n They also raised the Department of Agriculture\u2019s budget by P41.08 billion to P176.01 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n Approximately P8.98 billion will be redirected towards the development of more farm-to-market roads, while P9.21 billion will be allocated for the creation of post-harvest facilities and rehabilitation of current structures, among others, as presented by the House Appropriations Committee.<\/span><\/p>\n The House sub-committee also allocated about P1 billion to the Transportation department for its Metro Rail Transit Line 3 rehabilitation project, and an additional P266 million for its operations.<\/span><\/p>\n Lawmakers additionally added P900.56 million for the procurement of 40 fast patrol ships for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and P656.86 million to acquire a \u201cdark vessel\u201d detection system for vessels operating in Philippine waters.<\/p>\n The PCG has been pivotal in Manila\u2019s endeavors to assert its territorial assertions in the South China Sea, where China\u2019s extensive nine-dash line overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n Congressmen also consented to provide the Defense department with an additional P556.86 million to develop a forward operating base in Palawan province, which borders the disputed waterway. An additional P300 million was designated for the procurement of land parcels for the establishment of an air force base in Laoag, Ilocos province.<\/p>\n