House Representative Demands Transparency on Budget Variance
Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to promptly publish the full variance report comparing the House version of the 2025 national budget to the final law. He emphasized that this transparency would clarify doubts and counter accusations that the House was responsible for questionable budget insertions.
Valeriano, chair of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, highlighted that the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) passed by the House was transparent and prioritized key sectors. Notably, the Department of Education received the largest allocation, and funds were earmarked for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Discrepancies Arise After Senate and Bicameral Conference
“But along the way, when the measure went through the Senate, the bicam, and finally became law, the version that came out was already different,” Valeriano told local leaders. This refers to the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which drew criticism from watchdog groups for deprioritizing education, eliminating PhilHealth’s government subsidy, and including a sudden P26 billion allocation for Congress’ favored social welfare program, Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP).
DBM Holds Copies of Both Budget Versions
Valeriano recounted questioning Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman during a recent hearing about whether the DBM had both the House-approved GAB and the enrolled GAA. Pangandaman confirmed the department possessed copies of both documents, officials reported.
“Once the DBM releases those documents, we can clearly see where the changes were made,” Valeriano explained. “Right now, the House is being blamed left and right for the insertions, as if we were the ones who made them.”
Commitment to Release Final Budget Documents
The DBM has promised to provide the control bill, the final budget version, and the list of For Later Release (FLR) projects. The FLR list will help identify items absent from the original National Expenditure Program (NEP) and dispel allegations of House involvement in unauthorized insertions, community members noted.
Support from Fellow Legislators
Valeriano’s call for transparency echoes the statement of Antipolo 1st District Representative Ronaldo Puno, who asserted on August 12 that the removal of PhilHealth’s subsidy did not originate within the House of Representatives’ jurisdiction.
For more news and updates on 2025 national budget, visit Filipinokami.com.
