OP

The budget hearing of the Committee on Appropriations on House Bill No. 10858, the Fiscal Year 2027 General Appropriations Bill, is hereby resumed.

Please rise for the singing of the National Anthem and remain standing for the prayer to be led by Vice Chair Irene Labad-Labad.

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Lupa ng araw, nang luala hati't pagsinta, buhay ay langit sa piling mo.

Habi'y gaya na pag may mga abig, ang mamatay ng dahil sa'yo.

Almighty God, we come before you today with grateful hearts as we begin this budget briefing of the Office of the President.

Grant wisdom.

Grant wisdom and discernment to the Chair, the Honorable Members of this Committee, and all officials and representatives gathered here today.

Guide our discussions so that they may be conducted with respect, transparency, and a sincere commitment to the welfare of the Filipino people.

As we deliberate on the resources entrusted to government, remind us that public funds are a public trust.

Give us the wisdom to distinguish.

What is necessary, and the prudence to ensure that every peso serves a meaningful public purpose.

May our decisions uplift our communities, strengthen our institutions, and advance the common good.

Bless our leaders, our nation, and the people whom we are privileged to serve.

With humility and faith, we offer this prayer.

Amen.

Committee Secretary, please acknowledge...

May we acknowledge the members present and the resource persons present today.

Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

May we acknowledge the following members.

Senior Deputy Speaker, Ferdinand Hernandez.

Minority Leader, Marcelino Libanan.

Deputy Majority Leader, Bong Tevez.

Deputy Speaker, Bambi Emano.

Deputy Minority Leader, Antonio Tinio.

Deputy Majority Leader, John Baron.

Deputy Majority Leader, Lower Vice Chancellor,

Chair Mica Suansing.

Senior Vice Chair, Albert Garcia.

Vice Chair, Monique Lagdameo.

Vice Chair, Irene Labadlabad.

Vice Chair, Dante Garcia.

Vice Chair, Ditse Tina Pancho.

Vice Chair, Driesneel Yap.

Vice Chair, Bernadette Escudero.

Vice Chair, Maria Christina Talavera Lopez.

Vice Chair Ompong Ordanez, Vice Chair Marcy Chodoro, Vice Chair Joboy Aquino, Vice Chair Mike Tan.

We also have Representative Edgar Erice, Representative Miro Quimbo, Representative Elijah San Fernando,

Representative Carlos Loria, Representative Rene Co, Representative Tonypet Albano,

Representative Carl Ligaspi, Representative Sara Elago, Representative Iris Montes,

Representative Caroline Aguiao, Representative Benjamin Agarau, Representative Kenneth Tereng,

Representative Ricardo Cruz, Representative Christine Singson Mijan,

Representative Salvador Pleyto, Vice Chair Angela Garcia, Representative Edsel Galea,

Representative Richard Gomez, Representative Alan T., Vice Chair Joseph Tan, and Vice Chair Bernadette Escudero.

And Madam Chair, Mr. Chairman, may we acknowledge the Office of the Executive Secretary,

headed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. Good morning, sir.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Maria Lualhati Dorotan Choseco.

Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration, Joseph Irvin Ovenza.

Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs, Jesse Hermogenes Andres.

Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration, Daniel Maria Riesa Culangel.

Deputy Executive Secretary for Support Services and Auxiliaries, Danny Santiago.

Director General Maria Helen De La Vega, Office of the Director General for Operations.

Executive Director Danilo Pamonag, National Secretariat of the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict, or NTF-LCAP.

Undersecretary Facundo Falufox de Fort.

Undersecretary Georgina Anya.

Undersecretary Erwin Santaana.

Undersecretary Leonardo Roy Cervantes.

Assistant Executive Secretary Rowena Santana.

Undersecretary Daniel Sanchez.

That's all, Mr. Chairman.

Maraming salamat, Committee Secretary.

To the Honorable Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, our former colleague,

and the officials of the Office of the President,

Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez,

Chair Mika Suansing,

distinguished members of the Committee on Appropriations,

my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives,

our honored guests,

isang magandang umaga po sa ating lahat.

Today, we deliberate on the proposed

10,156,000,000 budget allocation of the Office of the President for Fiscal Year 2027.

The proposed budget is intended to ensure that the country's highest executive office,

is fully equipped to carry out its constitutional and administrative mandates,

and to respond to the specific needs and requirements of the President

in exercise of his responsibility as Head of State and Government,

Chief Executive, and Commander-in-Chief.

The Office of the President is mandated to assist the President

in the management of the affairs of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines,

to provide consultative research, fact-finding, and advisory services to the President,

and to provide technical and administrative support on matters concerning development,

management, general government administration, and internal administration.

In this regard, the proposed budget is designed to provide the necessary resources

for the Office of the President to effectively fulfill its mandate and responsibilities,

ensure timely, efficient, and responsive support to the President,

sustain the administrative, advisory, consultative, and other essential functions of the Office,

and to strengthen coordination across the Government.

With this in mind,

the proposed 10,000,000,000,000

or 156,000,000 budget

is directed towards advancing the interests and serving the needs of the Filipino people.

Maraming salamat po muli

at magandang umaga sa ating lahat.

Once again, kay ES at sa buong Office of the President family,

welcome to the House of the People.

With that,

may I

request

the Office of the President to proceed with their presentation for their budget for Fiscal Year 2027.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman,

former colleagues,

Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

Good morning.

Your Honors,

I appear before this distinguished body to present, explain, and more importantly,

seek your support for the proposed 2027 budget of the Office of the President.

I am here not merely because our laws require

the Executive to defend its budget before Congress,

which holds the constitutional power of the purse.

I am here above all in faithful compliance

with the President's standing directive,

honor Congress,

respect its mandate,

and regard it as a full partner

in advancing the welfare of our people

and protecting the national interests.

The President firmly believes that governance is strengthened

when the Executive and Legislative branches work together,

not as competing centers of power,

but as co-equal institutions

united by common duty to the Filipino people.

To enable the Office of the President to perform its constitutional responsibilities,

we respectfully propose a budget of 10.15 billion pesos

for 2027.

This represents only 0.14% or roughly one-seventh of 1% of the proposed P7.2 trillion national budget.

It is also 64% lower than the previous year's level.

This substantial reduction reflects the lower operational requirements of our delivery units

and the completion of activities related to the Philippines' hosting of the ASEAN Summit,

for which no additional funding will be required next year.

In short, we're asking for less while remaining fully prepared to do more.

We believe this amount is sufficient for the Presidency to meet the exacting demands of leading the nation

at a time of overlapping domestic and external challenges,

from geopolitical tensions and disruptions in the Middle East to typhoons, El Nino, and other calamities.

This budget will sustain the work of the Office of the President's 49 delivery units,

the machinery that keeps the highest office of government delivering for the Filipino people.

It will support cabinet meetings, policy consultations, presidential engagements, and official travels,

and the daily operations of Malacanang as the nation's principal center of decision-making and executive coordination.

More importantly, it will help bring timely assistance to vulnerable families

and enable the government to respond swiftly in times of emergencies.

Every day, the President's schedule is full because the demands of governing do not pause.

But activity alone is not our measure of performance.

The real test of every peso spent is whether it solves a problem, improves a life, or strengthens the nation.

This is a standard we apply to every peso in this budget proposal.

We ensure that every policy, meeting, engagement, and official mission yields a public dividend,

whether through jobs, investment, stronger national security, better public services, or more opportunities for our people.

Your Honors, we recognize that public funds are not the government's money.

They are the people's money earned through their hard labor.

And entrusted to us in the expectation that the government will uplift their lives.

That is why fiscal discipline and accountability remain central to the operations of the President.

For Fiscal Year 2025, the Commission on Audit issued the Office of the President an unmodified opinion.

This is the highest audit opinion an agency may receive.

And the OPs...

Third consecutive unmodified opinion since 2022.

This means that based on COA's independent audit, the OPs' financial statements were presented fairly in all material respects and in accordance with applicable public sector accounting standards.

This is a badge of good housekeeping.

This is proof that the Filipino people's money is accounted for and that their trust is respected.

Rest assured, we crafted the proposed budget strictly within the parameters and processes established by the DBM.

We sought no special treatment.

We submit this proposal with full respect for Congress's constitutional authority and with readiness to answer your questions.

Thank you very much, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

The presentation of the Office of the President having been concluded, the Chair now recognizes the Minority Leader for the proper motion.

Honorable Libanan, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, on the part of the minority, I move that we extend the institutional and interbranch courtesy to the Office of the President for the budget

of fiscal year 2027 subject however to some manifestations by some members of

the minority most especially that the office of the president is represented

by knowledge than our dear colleague yes Ralph recto whose brilliance and hard

work we know fully well mr. chair I therefore move to terminate further

deliberations and further discussions on the budget of the office of president

thank you very much for that motion honorable Lebanon may we now recognize

senior deputy speaker for Ferdinand Hernandez

thank you mr. chair on behalf

of the majority we joined minority and move that the

committee excepted

constitutional and interbranch courtesy to the office of the president and

terminate further discussion and interpolation on its proposed fiscal

year 2027 budget I so move

Mr. Chair, second.

Mr. Chair, we object.

there is a motion and duly seconded. we would like to recognize the Honorable Tonchi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I object and I would like to explain my

objection

Ito na naman po tayo.

May motion na naman para sa parliamentary courtesy para sa Office of the President.

Ibig sabihin, hindi na daw magtatanong ang Kongreso tungkol sa budget na

ipine-present ng Office of the President. Alam niyo po katulad ng

sinabi natin last year,

Dapat ibasura na ng kongresong ito ang parliamentary courtesy, lalo na sa usapin ng budget.

Ang gusto ng taong bayan ay transparency.

Kailangang patas. Dapat patas ang kongresong ito sa application ng prinsipyo ng transparency.

Lakas maka-demand ng kongresong ito ng transparency para sa Office of the Vice President.

Dapat ganun din para sa Office of the President.

Lalo pa ngayon dahil ang taong bayan gustong marinig ang paliwanag ng Office of the President

sa pagkakasangkot ng Presidente at ng mga cabinet officials niya mismo hinggil sa issue ng flood control.

Kailangang magpaliwanag ang Office of the President kung bakit talos kalahati ng kanyang budget

ay confidential.

and intelligence funds. The people want answers direct from the Office of the President. Iyon ang gusto nating marinig. At ito lang ang pagkakataon para direktang marinig ang kanilang mga sagot.

Kaya again, tayo po ay tumututol sa motion para mag-extend ng parliamentary courtesy.

And lastly, this is a challenge direct to...

The Executive Secretary.

Ito ay kung sakaling magtagumpay ang motion na ito, tandaan po natin, this is merely a courtesy.

At any time, pwedeng i-wave ng Office of the President at pwedeng niyang piliin na sagutin, sumagot sa mga tanong.

Kaya muli, we object.

The objection is noted.

And before the Chair makes a ruling...

Anuman ang maging risulta ng ating botohan, lahat po ng ating mga katanungan, clarification, suggestions,

will be answered either here or at the plenary where we will have a wider platform for everyone to witness.

So having said that,

the Committee shall now vote on the pending motion as related by...

the chair all those in favor please raise their hands in favor of the motion

in favor of the motion to terminate the hearing okay once again those who are in

favor of the motion to terminate the budget briefing of the office of the

president please raise your hands thank you very much

those opposed to the motion please raise your hands

mr. chair point of parliamentary inquiry

let's wait for the vote to be completed then I will

acknowledge your parliamentary inquiry. with 37 members voting in the affirmative and

five in the negative the motion is carried the committee hereby extend

institutional

and interbranch courtesy to the office of the president and terminates further

discussion and interpellation on its proposed fiscal year 2027 budget the

committee thanks the executive secretary Ralph recto and officials and

representatives of the office of the president for their attendance and

cooperation for this morning's hearing

mr. chair

mr. chair may we be allowed to manifest mr. chair.

yes will the Honorable

Rene Cove come in for because I recognize her earlier

mr. chair just to

clarify because according to section 120 the vote

have not been have will not terminate yet until we have explained the vote and

this representation would like to explain their vote now mr. chair mr.

chair, tumatayo po ako ngayon sa Makabayan Block upang

maghain ng opisyal na manipestasyon ukol sa panukalang budget ng Office of the

President para sa taong 2027. Gusto ko lang po ulit linawin na

ang kaban ng bayan ay hindi po personal na pag-aari ng Malacañang at hindi po

natin gusto na ituloy ang broken tradition of extended parliamentary courtesy to the

office of the president. Ang power of the purse ay nakalaan at nabibilang sa

hislatura bilang kinatawan ng mamamayan at hindi kailanman dapat iisuko sa

ekotibo. Noong mga nakaraang deliberasyon, nakita natin

kung paano ginagawang pormalidad ang mabilisang pag-aproba na lamang ang

deliberasyon sa budget ng pangulo dahil sa tinatawag na courtesy. Subalit sa harap

ng

napakaraming krisis na kinakaharap ng bansa ngayon marapat lamang na

ideklara natin na ang bawat piso at sentimo ng 2027 national expenditure

program na mula sa pawis, dugo at buwis ng mamamayang Pilipino ay i-explain at

ipakita kung paano ito igasta. Nakita isang ehemplo po na ang malaking

kontradiksyon na transparency daw ang priority principle pero walang

pampublikong impormasyon ukol sa proseso

ng implementasyon o audit ng bilyong-bilyong piso na nailalaan sa Support to Barangay Development Program ng NTF-ELCAC

kung saan ang pangulo po ang

nagsisilbing chairperson. Binubuhusan po ito ng bilyon-bilyon kada taon mula

1.95 billion noong 2025 GA naging 8 billion noong 2026 at ngayon 9.74

billion na this 2027. Nagagamit na rin ang pondo na ito sa panunupil ng

Ito sa panunupil ng mamayan at mas malalapa na hindi malinaw ang proseso ng paggasta.

Isa pong proseso na gusto nating ilinaw na nakasalang ngayon sa deliberasyon kahit sa level ng Senado.

Although yun po ay Office of the Vice President.

Ayaw na po natin na magawing gamiting pagbalatbunga ang mga proyekto tulad ng farm-to-market roads or school buildings under BDP

para lamang magtayo ng panibagong forma ng pork barrel at political patronage sa lokal na antas.

Bakit kailangang dumaan sa isang counter-insurgency task force ang pondo para sa mga paaralan at health centers

samantalang nariyan naman ang DepEd at DOH?

Napatunayan na natin ang ganitong sistema ay naging bukal lamang ng red tagging, panunupil sa mga sibilyan

at mga kadudadudang proyekto habang patuloy na naghihirap ang mga marginalized sectors.

Hanggang ngayon,

hindi pa rin natin nakikita ang malawakang pananagutan sa flood control corruption

at sa gitna po ng mga aligasyon na involved, hindi lang si Pangulo pero ang mga cabinet secretaries

at ang pagbahana naman sa iba't-ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas.

Kine-question natin ano po ba ang priority policies ng administrasyon para pangalagaan ang kalikasan.

Ngayong nakikita natin ang tuloy na tuloy na pagkalbo ng mga bundok,

ang pagkakaroon ng executive orders para ayusin yung mas malawakang pagmimina sa bansa?

Paano natin masisigurado na wala na magiging mas malalang pagbaha,

mas malalang pagwasak ng kalikasan na sa dulo po nito paghihirap ng mamamayan ang dulot?

Mr. Chair, lahat po ito kailangang pag-usapan and therefore wala pong puwang ang parliamentary courtesy,

sa ganitong panahon,

na ang mga taong bayan ay napakaraming tanong, hindi lang sa paggasta ng buong administrasyon,

but more importantly, the Office of the President.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That ends my explanation.

Mr. Chair.

Maraming salamat, the Honorable Rene Co.

Your manifestation is noted at lahat po ito, sasagutin on or before the plenary.

May I now recognize, the Chair now recognizes the Honorable Elijah San Fernando for his manifestation.

You have five minutes.

Maraming salamat po, Mr. Chair.

Mismong si Executive Secretary Ralph Recto na po ang nagsabi.

Ang marching order ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, nandito sila because they would like to honor and respect the mandate of Congress.

At ang mandato ng Kongreso particular ng ating...

Bulwagan ay busisiin ang bawat piso at sentimong inilalagak sa mga opisina at ahensya ng gobyerno kahit pa ito'y pumapatungkol

sa pinakamataas na opisina ng ating bayan, ang Office of the President.

Mr. Chair, no other than the President, President Bongbong Marcos, has repeatedly said na dapat magkaroon ng transparency at accountability

at all levels.

Pero ngayon, Mr. Chair, tila nadidefeat yung sinasabi ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos tungkol sa transparency at accountability.

Mr. Chair, ang kortesiya po ay dapat na mas binibigay sa mga taxpayer, sa mga manggagawa at ordinaryong Pilipino na nagbabayad ng buwis.

Ngayon pa po, nalubog yung mga kababayan natin sa baha.

At umaharap yung bansa natin sa sangkatutak na mga problema, lalong-lalo na ang mga manggagawa.

E dapat lang po na mabusisiin natin yung bawat piso na nilalaan sa mga opisina ng ating pamahalaan, lalong-lalo na sa Office of the President.

Kaya po tumututol ang mga manggagawa doon sa parliamentary courtesy na iginagawad natin sa Office of the President.

Muli po, binibigyang diin natin.

Ang kortesiya ay dapat mas ibigay natin sa mga manggagawa.

At ordinaryong Pilipino na gustong malaman, hindi lamang yung bawat piso na ilalagak natin sa Office of the President,

kundi pati na rin ano ang mga policy statement, policy direction ng Office of the President

na may kinalaman sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng mga manggagawa at ordinaryong Pilipino.

Kaya Mr. Chair, muli ko pong binibigyang diin.

Ang mga manggagawa at ordinaryong Pilipino ay tumututol at hindi sumasangayon.

Sa pinagpasahan ng kumiting ito, nabigyan ng parliamentary courtesy ang Office of the President.

Maraming salamat po, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much, Honorable Elijah San Fernando.

Again, your manifestation is noted at ito pong lahat ng inyong katanungan at paglilinaw ay sasagutin

honor before the budget defense of the Office of the President in plenary.

Thank you very much. Your manifestation is noted.

May we now recognize the Honorable Sara Elago. Please proceed.

Mr. Chair, ang mga kababaihan ay kasama sa nananawagan ng buong-buo na transparency at accountability.

Nananawagan na magkaroon ng kasagutan sa maraming nilang katanungan,

lalong-lalo na sa panahon ngayon na pagkataas-taas ng presyo ng bigas, ng pagkain, ng kuryente, ng langis,

mababa ang sahod.

Hindi na kasya sa pangaraw-araw na pangangailangan ng kanilang mga pamilya at ng kanilang mga komunidad.

Matindi ang epekto ng pagbaha ng sunod-sunod na kalamidad.

Nandyan pa ang banta ng Super El Nino.

Sa kabila nito, Mr. Chair, nabagsak-nabagsak din ang ating lokal na agrikultura at manupaktura.

Nakita rin natin sa pangkabuan sa national budget,

napakaliit pa rin na prioridad ang binibigay natin sa pagpapayaman ng lokal na produksyon ng bigas.

Nang suporta na binibigay natin sa ating mga lokal na nagtatanim ng gulay at prutas.

At sa pangkabuan, ang binibigay natin na suporta para sa pagpapayaman ng lokal na agrikultura.

Sa kabila ng napakarami at patong-patong na problema ng ating mga kababayan,

lalong-lalo na ho na sa taon-taon,

top one yung high prices ng mga bilihin sa kanilang mga dinadaing,

ay pinapataw pa rin natin yung mga nagpapahirap na mga buwis sa ating mga naghihirap na nga ng mga kababayan,

tulad ng value-added tax at ng excise tax sa langis.

Hindi ba dapat panahon na para ma-review natin itong mga buwis na pinakapinapasan ng mga pinakamahihirap at pinakanakakaranas ng gutom

sa ating mga kababayan?

Nandyan din po, naggawad na ang kongreso na ito ng emergency powers para suspindihin o bawasan muna temporarily

o kaya naman tuluyan ang maibasura ang excise tax sa petroleum products.

Ngunit sa ngayon, ang sinususpindi pa lang natin yung excise tax sa LPG at kerosene, paano naman po ang diesel, paano naman po ang gasolina,

paano naman ang ibang mga petroleum products.

Diyan ho lubos na nakaasa ang ating mga magsasaka para sa kanilang mga makina na ginagamit sa pagtatanim.

Paano naman yung ating mga mangingisda na ginagamit po ang crudo para sa kanilang pagpapalaot.

Kaya nga naman, nandirito ho kami para sana mag-iit.

Hindi lang sana pero dapat eh, masagot natin yung katanungan, hindi lang po ng mga kababaihan kundi ng ating mga kababayan.

Kung bakit wala ho ang decisive na action para pababain.

Yung presyo ng bigas, yung presyo ng pagkain, yung presyo ng langis.

Bakit hindi natin tanggalin muna kahit temporarily o tuluyan na na maibasura at seryoso na matalakay at magkaroon ng direksyon

para hindi po pinapasan ng ordinaryong mamamayan itong patong-patong na mga buwis tulad ng VAT.

At pag-isipan naman natin kung paano yung mga malalaking korporasyon, yung mga superbilyonaryo dito sa ating bansin.

Ang ating papatawan ng buwis.

At kung paano rin natin lubos na mapapayaman ang agrikultura, ang manupaktura, ang industriya,

ang dami ng micro, small, at medium enterprises na lubos na umaasa sa ating pamahalaan para sa suporta,

para mabuild yung capacity nila na mag-export at mapaunlad ang ating bansa at lumikha ng trabaho dito sa ating bayan.

Bukod po dyan, lubos po na umaasa yung ating mga magsasaka at mga katulad.

Mga katutubo na mauna yung interest nila sa kanilang lupa, na mauna yung interest nila sa lokal na agrikultura,

imbis na unahin yung paghahanda para dito sa mga negosasyon na may kinalaman sa paksilika.

Ang panawagan nila, lupa para sa magsasaka, lupa para sa mga katutubo, hindi para sa paksilika.

Kaya muli, Mr. Che, tayo po ay dismayado na ang mga katanungan at napakaraming mabibigat ng mga usapin,

na ito ay hindi natalakay ngayon.

Dapat ang parliamentary courtesy ay sa mamamayang Pilipino na lubos na umaasa na sama-sama tayong lahat

na aangat noong pagdating sa pinapangarap natin na pambansang pagunlad

at para sa susunod na henerasyon ng sambayan ng Pilipino.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair.

Maraming salamat, Honorable Sarah Ilago.

Those are very valid concerns.

And your manifestation is noted.

And once again, the Office of the President will answer all these concerns on or before their date at the plenary.

So thank you very much.

Mr. Chair.

Before we recognize the Honorable Montez, I would like to recognize the Honorable Edgar Erize.

I am not a member of the Appropriations Committee, but I would like to express my support

to the President's $10 billion budget.

simply because ah sa tingin ko po ay ah sumunod ng pangulo na tayo ay nasa austerity at binaba niya ng 64%

'yung kanyang budget at 'yun pong uh confidential funds I think at this point in time very necessary para sa ating pangulo

So bale nais ko pong ah

hingin ang ah attensyon ng Executive

Secretary at ng mga Kabinete na may mga malalaking katanungan na dapat sagutin during the plenary.

At ito po ay ang una, una ang katanungan po.

We are in a severe quarterly deceleration as manifested by our GDP.

Apat na quarters na po po pabagsak ng pabagsak ang ating GDP

Ito po ay ang mga dahilan, of course, the external factor, inflation

pero may pangatlong dahilan na pumipigil sa pag-angat o pag-recover ng ating bansa

Ito po yung flood control at budget ah anomaly

Ah at yan po ay pinapatunayan na ang pagka-recover na nung mga kapitbahay nating mga bansa

even Vietnam,

[unclear]

8% GDP ngayon po. So ang malaki pong

katanungan,

paano itong 2027 budget makakatulong upang iangat yung ating ekonomiya? Noong 2023 po, ang fiscal space para sa mga developmental projects capital outlay

[unclear]

is

[unclear]

[unclear]

25%.

2024

po,

21

%.

Twenty-twenty-five po, nineteen percent. Ganon din po, twenty-twenty-six, nineteen percent.

Ngayon po, sa aking pag-aaral, labing-anim na porsyento na lamang ang Fiscal Space for Developmental Project.

At dito po sa sixteen percent na ito, thirty-seven percent po dito ay

mga pork pa po.

Soft and hard pork.

Kabilang na po rito yung presidential

pork na 58 billion.

Halimbawa po

ng presidential pork,

pinamigay po na 8 billion sa mga barangay,

mga scholarship,

mga 100,000 per barangay,

na wala naman po tayong measure,

walang absorptive

capacity ang gobyerno

para mamonitor ito.

Iyan po ay napatunayan

na sa patuloy na korupsyon

ng mga

budget ng barangay na

nato-tolerate po ng commission and audit

at sayang po yung pera

kung dito lang po mapupunta.

Sa ngayon po,

ang inutangin natin

ay 1.6

billion. Trillion.

1.6 trillion.

At ang ating

nakalaan para sa developmental

project ay

1.1 trillion

lamang. So, ibig sabihin

po, ang inuutang natin for

government operations, personnel services

na at MOOE.

Hindi na po para sa developmental

project. Ang pag-angat na ekonomiya

4%,

ang pag-angat ng utang

halos 10%.

So, dapat po ito yung mga mahalalagang

maipaliwanag sa mga

mamamayan para maunawaan

nila saan ba ang direksyon

ng bansa na ito.

Ito ba ay paangat

sa susunod na

dalawang buwan

ng ating

Pangulo? Ano ba ang direksyon

na tatahakin? Ano ba ang

gagawin para itong 2027

budget at 2028 budget

ay mapakinabangan para

sa pag-angat ng buhay ng mga

Pilipino? Salamat po.

Thank you very much, the Honorable

Erice, for your

very significant

manifestation.

May I now recognize...

Before that, may I manifest

that I'll be listed

for my manifestation

in support 100% of the budget

of President Bongbong Marcos.

Your

manifestation is...

And you will be recognized

after Congresswoman Iris Montez.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Yes. Honorable Montez,

please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would just like to manifest that my

negative vote is not

directed against the office of the President

or the person occupying the office.

Rather, it's a vote

in favor of transparency,

accountability, and the

constitutional duty of Congress

to scrutinize every peso of public

funds. I commend the office of

the President for submitting a lower

budget in

consideration, perhaps, of the dire

situation we are in right now.

But let me just also emphasize

that the national budget is the

most important policy document

that comes before this chamber

and no office, regardless of

its stature, should be exempt from

meaningful scrutiny. So it is

for that reason that I

voted no to the motion. Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Maraming salamat,

Honorable Montez.

Next, may we recognize

the Honorable Rufus

Rodriguez.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning, Madam Chair.

May distinguished colleagues

and, of course, good morning

to AS Ralph Recto

and the entire OP family

here. Let me manifest,

Madam Chairman, that

we, that I, this representation

from Cagayan, De Oro City,

the city of golden friendship,

supports 100%

the entire budget

of the office of the President.

Why? Because our

President deserves support

and admiration

and we have to love him first.

He is the President

who is doing the right

track in foreign policy.

The President,

who made sure that not

an inch of our territory,

which is national

territory, Article 1, the first important

statement and

provision in our Constitution is

national territory.

And our President, Mr. Chairman,

Madam Chair, made sure

that we have the right pivot

to like-minded countries

like the United States,

Japan,

the European Union,

Australia,

New Zealand, and others

because this is a matter

of international law

and President Marcos

indeed is

trying to protect our

West Philippine Sea, our

200-mile economic zone as provided for

by the 1982

United Nations Convention

of the Law of the Sea.

Mr. Chairman, that is

one aspect that why

we have to support the President

in his quest

that no foreign power

should be able

to get our

200-mile economic zone.

Secondly, the President

was the person

who made sure that during

his SONA

brought about these flood control

issues. And therefore,

those who are responsible

through our ombudsman

will face justice

for this. I'm just

happy to note that there is no

ghost project in the second

district of Cagayan de Oro nor

substandard projects

of flood control. Everything is completed

and also on

the proper

standards, Madam Chairman.

We passed COA, we passed the

NBI, we passed the

DPWH, we passed the NEDA

or the examination

immediately after the President

pronounced those

na mahiya naman because of

the flood control.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman,

as a member of this

Congress, all the way

from Mindanao, we

are therefore here to

signify our full support.

First, the President

stands on the right way

to counter China.

Number two, anti-corruption

campaign, the President appointing

a very illustrious member of ours,

the ombudsman, to start

already, he has been filing

and more will be filed to make

sure those responsible will face

justice.

So, Mr. Chairman, many things

and then, of course, the assistance

to farmers and fisherfolk.

The President was in Cagayan de Oro

distributing 10,000

to our farmers

and fisherfolk of Region 10.

The President

also made sure that we,

the members of Congress,

are able to have access

to the DSWD,

the DOLE,

the TESDA, and of course,

the Department of Health.

All of those, Mr. Chairman,

would show, would compel

us, compel this Congress

to make sure that

the budget of the President

na wala.

Back to the TV.

And therefore, with that,

I end my manifestation

and again, best wishes to

the President, ES Ralph

Recto, who is doing very best

to be able to have the

our government

functionaries perform

through the ES.

So, with that, I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you for giving this opportunity

to the representative

of the City of Cagayan de Oro,

the City of Golden Friendship,

the gateway to Mindanao.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chair,

Mr. Chair,

Maraming salamat. I would like to thank the Honorable Rodriguez

for your manifestation.

Huwag po kayong mag-alala.

Hindi po nahalata ng atas,

ating committee, kahit hindi po

naka-on yung mic nyo kanina.

Dinig na dinig po kayo

sa buong silid

ngayong umaga.

So, it didn't make a difference,

Honorable Rodriguez.

So, thank you very much

for your manifestation.

Yes, we recognize again

the Honorable Tino.

Thank you, Chair.

Chair, dahil nagmamanifest tayo

ng mga itatanong sana natin

and we still expect answers

in the plenary, so let me manifest

some of the questions I would have

asked today.

Una, tungkol sa flood control.

Kaya po narito

ang kagalang-galang na

Executive Secretary Recto

dahil sinibak yung kanyang

predecessor

at iba pang mga

cabinet officials

na pinangalanan ni Zaldico

at saka ni DPWH

Yusek Bernardo

na sangkot daw

sa paglagay

ng mga insertion sa

2025 budget

at pag-facilitate ng kickback

para sa Pangulo mismo.

So, ang tanong po natin, bakit sila

sinibak? Bakit walang

anumang paliwanag at bakit

hanggang ngayon walang investigasyon

sa mga opisyal na ito

na sangkot

umano sa flood control

kasama na ang Pangulo?

Pangalawa, kaugnay sa

confidential and intelligence funds.

Bakit halos

kalahati ng budget ng

Office of the President

4.55 billion pesos

ay confidential and intelligence

funds?

Kung binubusisi ngayon

ang total na

612.5

million na

confidential funds ng

Office of the Vice President sa loob

ng ilang taon lang yan

bakit hindi

binubusisi

o bakit hindi pinapaliwanag

ng Office of the President

kung bakit ganung kalaki

ang kanyang confidential

and intelligence funds.

So, kailangan po,

as I said, patas

na aplikasyon ng prinsipyo

ng transparency. Gusto natin

ng mga sagot sa mga katanungan ito.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Chair.

So, thank you very much

the Honorable Tino.

Ayan na po ang huli

sa lahat ng

ating mga membro na gusto,

magbigay ng kanilang

manifestation

and

once again, I saw the

Office of the President, the staff, taking

notes intently and I saw

the Executive Secretary

Ralph Recto talagang

yung kanyang

atensyon ay nakatuon

dun sa mga katanungan ng ating

mga membro and itong lahat po

ay sasagutin, honor

before the plenary, nang sa ganon