13 Disyembre,2024 Biyernes
18 days to 2025, Merry Christmas
Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
PM for any hospital discharge problem
Budget signed before Christmas
By Nidz Godino
“Following standard practice, Congress-approved national budget bill will be transmitted to Office of the President for review… national budget for 2025 will be signed before Christmas Day,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in statement President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.is slated to sign into law P6.532-trillion national budget for 2025 before Christmas.
PCO Secretary Cesar Chavez previously said signing of spending bill has been tentatively set for Dec. 20.
Militant lawmakers, meanwhile, are questioning what they considered hasty ratification of bicameral conference committee report on approved budget.
In manifestation, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel of Makabayan bloc questioned specifically huge increase from P158.7 billion to P531.7 billion in “unprogrammed appropriations” of bicam-approved budget program.
“Do all items slashed from programmed appropriations like in education go here, unprogrammed appropriations?” Manuel asked.
Manuel is questioning bicam conference report “because we have seen new changes, not for better, but to bring country away from true progress.”
He also questioned decrease in budget of Department of Education (DepEd), while taking note of increase in P7 billion budget for state colleges and universities (SUCs).
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Irrigation Authority (NIA).
Kabataan representative also cited “big challenge” facing Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), would be receiving zero subsidy based on next year’s budget.
“While this zero budget for PhilHealth is big challenge for this agency to live up in expectations to it, it is surprising why there is cut in budget of DOH…so how can we expect to have better health care services if there is P25.8 trillion peso budget cut in DOH as compared to bicam version of NEP ,National Expenditure Program in our national budget?” Manuel said.
For Senate President Francis Escudero, zero subsidy for PhilHealth under approved budget program should serve as wakeup call for underperforming agencies.
“For such blunder, this should serve as wakeup call to them, if not slap in the face to make them do their job… not right to reward them for their blunder by giving them money they will not use anyway,” Escudero said.
He scored health insurer for not having single patient avail of zero balance billing despite its P600 billion allocation.
Meanwhile, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was “misinformed” about his criticism of its memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PhilHealth and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
On Wednesday, Dela Rosa was wondering why PhilHealth and DBP would choose to partner with party-list and not with DOH in development and rehabilitation of health facilities.
“It is worth asking why Senator Dela Rosa is so fixated on attacking this program, designed to uplift underserved communities…could this be attempt to deflect attention from House investigation into extrajudicial killings during his time as police chief…his sudden concern for governance and ethics appears more like smokescreen to distract from his own accountability issues than genuine critique of MOA,” Acidre said .
“Tingog Partylist’s participation in underserved and rural communities. is rooted in its mission to improve access to health care, especially in underserved and rural communities. This initiative is not about power or control but about facilitating solutions for local government units (LGUs) to enhance public health care services, initiative is not about power or control but about facilitating solutions for local government units (LGUs) to enhance public health care services,” Acidre explained.
He said MOA outlines Tingog’s role in supporting LGUs by helping them access DBP’s financial mechanisms, and provide “fiscal training, capacity building and other initiatives to allow LGUs access to DBP’s credit facility, as well as “direct medical assistance” to patients.
Acidre said Tingog’s involvement is strictly facilitative and does not infringe on mandates of government agencies.
“Tingog Partylist does not handle funds, manage projects, or encroach upon functions of Department of Health or Department of the Interior and Local Government…these agencies remain central to national health care programs,” he stressed.
He rejected Dela Rosa’s criticisms, including claims that initiative bypasses government agencies.
“MOA does not bypass these agencies. ..Tingog complements, not replaces, their mandates, on accusations of politicization… Tingog’s involvement is grounded in service, not politics, MOA adheres to all legal protocols… financial arrangements are strictly between DBP and LGUs, and no funds are transferred to Tingog… ethics of this partnership should be measured by its intent and outcomes, not by Dela Rosa’s baseless speculations,” Acidre clarified.
He called on Dela Rosa to recognize true purpose of initiative.
“Instead of politicizing well-intentioned initiative, Senator Dela Rosa should focus on addressing lingering questions about his past and how it has affected lives of countless Filipinos… Tingog, for its part, remains committed to serving people, especially those in rural areas who have long been neglected, we call on public to see through this distraction and focus on what truly matters: ensuring that health care reaches every Filipino, regardless of political noise…public service should always prioritize welfare of people, not personal or political agendas” Acidre said.
ISKUP! 