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Introduction: Bato Dela Rosa Criticizes 2025 Budget
Senator Bato Dela Rosa Criticizes 2025 Budget as “the worst” in the history of the Philippines. His statement, delivered on Saturday, points to serious constitutional violations in how the government allocated the budget, particularly regarding education.
Dela Rosa’s bold criticism emphasizes the importance of adhering to constitutional mandates when allocating funds, especially for vital sectors like education, which should receive the largest share.
Constitutional Concerns: Education Budget Misallocation
The Philippine Constitution clearly mandates that the education sector should receive the largest portion of the national budget. This directive aims to ensure that the country’s future generations have access to quality education.
However, Dela Rosa pointed out that this constitutional provision was blatantly ignored in the 2025 budget. According to him, instead of prioritizing education, the government decreased the funds allocated to the sector and instead increased the budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Discrepancies in the Budget Allocation
Last week, Davao City Third District Representative Isidro Ungab raised concerns about the inconsistency in budget calculations between the education sector and DPWH in the newly approved 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Ungab noted that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had made inconsistent computations when finalizing the budget for education compared to previous listings. Dela Rosa echoed these concerns, stating that the allocation violated the Constitution’s stipulations, further highlighting discrepancies that affected the proper funding of education.
Dela Rosa’s Stand on the Budget Changes
In his statement, Dela Rosa emphasized that despite claims that the education budget had been adjusted to meet constitutional standards, the truth is different. He alleged that the government tried to “repair” the situation by rearranging the figures, making it appear that education received a higher share.
According to Dela Rosa, these changes were made right before the budget was signed by the president.“It’s a clear violation of the Constitution,” Dela Rosa asserted, adding that the government’s last-minute rearrangement of funds, including vetoes and adjustments, was an attempt to cover up the actual misallocation.
While the numbers may show a larger figure for the education sector, the funds were reclassified, with some of the education funds actually being diverted from the Department of National Defense (DND).
Davao City Representative Ungab’s Comments
In alignment with Dela Rosa’s concerns, Representative Ungab had earlier expressed doubt over the accuracy of the computations. He claimed that the DBM’s numbers didn’t match previous budget listings for education. These inconsistencies raised questions about the transparency of the budgeting process and its potential impact on the education system.
Khonghun’s Assurance vs. Dela Rosa’s Findings
In December 2024, Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun from Zambales assured the public that the education budget had, in fact, surpassed that of DPWH by P22 billion. Khonghun stated that the education sector’s budget amounted to P1.055 trillion, while the DPWH was allocated P1.033 trillion.
However, Dela Rosa contested this claim, suggesting that a significant portion of the so-called education fund came from reallocated defense-related expenditures.
According to Dela Rosa, these adjustments were merely an attempt to justify the figures by including unrelated defense sector training funds under the “education” umbrella.
Conclusion: The Fallout of the 2025 Budget Allocation
Dela Rosa’s outspoken remarks underscore a significant issue with the 2025 national budget—the failure to prioritize education as mandated by the Constitution. The discrepancies in budget allocations and the reclassification of funds have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the budgeting process.
If these issues are not addressed, it could have long-term repercussions on the quality of education in the country and, consequently, on the nation’s future.
Dela Rosa’s criticism highlights the importance of transparency and adherence to constitutional guidelines in managing national finances. As the controversy surrounding the 2025 budget continues, it is clear that a reevaluation of how the government allocates funds to essential sectors like education is needed to ensure that the needs of the Filipino people are met.
FAQs:
What did Senator Bato Dela Rosa say about the 2025 national budget?
Bato Dela Rosa Criticizes 2025 Budget as “the worst” in history, particularly for not following the Constitutional mandate to prioritize education funding.
What is the main issue with the education budget in the 2025 GAA?
The issue lies in the fact that the budget allocated to education was reduced, while the DPWH budget was increased. This misallocation violates the Constitution’s directive.
What did Representative Isidro Ungab say about the budget?
Ungab questioned the inconsistency of the budget computations for education and DPWH, raising concerns about the accuracy of the figures.
Why is Dela Rosa so critical of the reallocation of funds?
Dela Rosa believes that the reallocation of funds from defense to education was a manipulation to make it appear that education received a larger share of the budget, which was not the case.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article: Bato Dela Rosa Criticizes 2025 Budget as ‘The Worst’ is based on public statements and reports about the 2025 national budget and may be subject to change as new developments arise. Please refer to official government releases for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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