Senator JV Ejercito flags health, calamity fund cuts in House version of 2027 budget

Senate Finance Committee Chairperson JV Ejercito has raised concerns over changes introduced in the House version of the proposed 2027 national budget, including cuts to preventive health care and calamity funding despite the country’s preparations for a possible El Niño.

Ejercito said initial findings showed that several allocations in the House-approved General Appropriations Bill (GAB) differed significantly from those proposed under the National Expenditure Program (NEP), warranting closer scrutiny by the Senate.

“Kinukumpirma natin na may mga pagbabago, malaking pagbabago mula NEP sa House version ng GAB. Ang aking initial reaction ay nakakapagtaka lang na nabawasan ng pondo sa ilang mga programa.”

“Striking para sa akin lalo na’ yung mga natanggal sa mga malalaking program especially sa ilan nating advocacies,” Ejercito said.

Among the changes he cited were a P4.45-billion reduction in the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program, alongside an increase in funding for its Medical Assistance Program (MAP) to P23.9 billion.

The MAP provides financial assistance to indigent patients to help cover their medical expenses.

Ejercito said the funding adjustments appeared to favor curative care over preventive health programs, which he said was inconsistent with the country’s push for the full implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC).

Other proposed reductions include P130 billion in foreign-assisted projects and P9.5 billion in the Calamity Fund, even as the country faces the threat of El Niño.

The House version also introduced a new P10-billion allocation for the Department of Agriculture’s Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk.

In the public works sector, initial findings showed a P2.6-billion cut in funding for right-of-way payments. While P8.04 billion was allocated for flood mitigation structures, funding for projects within major river basins was reduced by P4.6 billion.

Ejercito said the Senate would examine the changes to determine their rationale and whether the revised allocations address the country’s priority needs.

“Ang budget process, balancing act naman talaga 'yan. May nadadagdagan at may nababawasan. Pero titiyakin natin na malaman bakit may pagbabago, ano ang dahilan o purpose, at kung mapupunta ba ito sa mga pangunahing kailangan,” he said.

He also said the Senate would reinstate its prohibition on budget line items that lack sufficient details or supporting documentation, particularly lump-sum appropriations.

The Senate Finance Committee likewise intends to sustain transparency measures throughout the budget deliberations, including consultations with civil society organizations (CSOs) and watchdog groups. These groups will be encouraged to flag potential irregularities and participate in hearings, including the bicameral conference committee deliberations.

The committee received the House version of the GAB at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with hard copies distributed to senators on Wednesday morning.

Ejercito said he had directed the Finance Committee vice-chairpersons to begin preparing subcommittee reports for agencies whose budgets had already completed committee deliberations. The reports are due on October 23.

The committee is scheduled to brief CSOs on October 26 and file its committee report on November 11. Ejercito is set to deliver his sponsorship speech on November 23, followed by the period of interpellation, which is scheduled to run until December 1.

Ejercito said the Senate would independently scrutinize the House version to ensure that public funds are allocated appropriately and used for their intended purposes.

-Paraluman News