Livelihood, not lifelines

The Marcos administration’s proposed 2026 national budget signals a welcome and timely shift: prioritizing human capital development.

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Education, healthcare, training, social services—these are the cornerstones of a nation that wants to rise not just economically, but with dignity. But pure rhetoric doesn’t change anything; it must meet reality. The numbers may look promising, but it’s the execution that will ultimately spell the difference between hope and heartbreak.

What the government must understand—urgently—is that cash assistance alone won’t rescue Filipinos from the clutches of poverty. It helps, yes. It soothes hunger. It tides people over during crises. But it does not heal the root cause of poverty. If this administration is serious about long-term development, it must invest more—much more—in sustainable livelihood programs. Not dole-outs. Not band-aid solutions. But skills-building, enterprise support, and market linkages that empower people to build lives, not just survive them.