New year, old challenges

The year is starting with the people stuck with the funding priorities of Congress: hefty budget cuts for health, education, agriculture, de-politicized social welfare programs, and even the military modernization program for external defense in the West Philippine Sea.

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In contrast, senators and congressmen gave themselves substantial funding increases apart from higher allocations for their pork barrel under the unprogrammed appropriations. They also allocated earmarking privileges for what is supposed to be social welfare programs in which they have no say. The 2025 national outlay has been described as a patronage budget, meant to use taxpayers' money to finance politicians' election campaigns.

Instead of impounding public funds for self-aggrandizement, the political leadership must wean the masses from reliance on dole-outs and empower them for self-advancement through quality education and sufficient health care.