Manila: The House Committee on Appropriations has given the green light with amendments to House Bill 4058, which is the proposed PHP6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill for the fiscal year 2026.
According to Philippines News Agency, the committee, led by Nueva Ecija 1st District Representative Mikaela Angela Suansing, also approved the committee report detailing the Budget Amendment and Review Subcommittee’s (BARSc) decision to reallocate PHP255.53 billion. This budget was originally slashed from the flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The reallocation aims to prioritize sectors such as education, health, and agriculture.
During the executive committee meeting, attended by 113 members and ex-officio members, the measure was endorsed for plenary deliberations. Suansing emphasized the importance of directing funds towards human capital development, noting that the budget should focus on uplifting lives, protecting communities, and securing the nation’s economic future.
In the education sector, lawmakers approved an additional PHP37.3 billion in funding. This includes allocations for the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS). Notably, DepEd’s Basic Education Facilities Program received PHP22.5 billion to construct and complete 19,360 classrooms. CHED was allocated PHP6.619 billion for the Tertiary Education Subsidy and PHP2.693 billion for the Tulong Dunong Program. TESDA received PHP635.2 million for special training and PHP356 million for scholarships, while PSHSS was granted an additional PHP100 million for scholarship programs and PHP350 million for facility improvements.
Health programs received the largest share of the reallocated funds, with PHP89.281 billion designated for the sector. This includes a PHP60 billion return to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to expand benefit packages and improve member coverage. Additionally, PHP2.4 billion was allocated for the completion of specialty hospitals, such as the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and the Philippine Cancer Center. The Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients Program received PHP26.731 billion.
The agriculture sector was allocated PHP44.9 billion to enhance food production and support farmers. The Department of Agriculture received PHP8.898 billion for farm-to-market roads, PHP7 billion in direct assistance for 1 million farmers, and PHP8.693 billion for National Food Authority postharvest facilities. Other allocations include PHP4.076 billion for solar-powered irrigation and PHP2.4 billion for deep-water ports. Funds were also set aside for cold storage facilities, fish ports, and soil health programs. The National Irrigation Administration secured PHP5 billion for various irrigation systems, while the Department of Agrarian Reform received PHP250 million for its Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Bridge Program, and PHP350 million for its Land Tenure Security Program.
Outside the primary sectors, other agencies also benefited from the reallocations. The Department of Social Welfare and Development was allocated PHP32.063 billion for its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program, PHP500 million for the Mindanao Disaster Resource Center Phase 1, and PHP275 million for regional Bahay PAGASA facilities. The Department of Labor and Employment received an additional PHP14.819 billion for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program and PHP3.312 billion for the Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program. Infrastructure and transport projects, defense, justice, energy, and security programs also received additional funding.
In summary, the reallocation of PHP255.53 billion aims to address key areas that will uplift communities and improve the nation’s economic stability. The comprehensive redistribution of funds underscores the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in ensuring that every peso is invested where it is needed most.
