SEN. Joseph Victor Ejercito yesterday appealed to members of the contingent of the House of Representatives in the bicameral conference committee discussing the proposed 2025 national budget to consider the recommendation of the Senate to allocate sufficient funds for the government’s priority infrastructure projects, which were decreased in the version approved by the lower house.
In a statement, Ejercito said projects such as the Metro Manila Subway, North-South Commuter Railway, Mindanao Railway, and the PNR South Long Haul are badly needed amid the worsening traffic situation in the country.
“We are still in a critical phase of the 2025 national budget deliberations at the bicam. At this stage, we must ensure that the government’s priority projects, especially the Foreign-Assisted Projects, are included in the final budget,” Ejercito said.
He noted that the railway projects, which are crucial to improving connectivity and reducing traffic congestion, did not get adequate funding in the Malacañang-submitted National Expenditure Program (NEP) and General Appropriations Bill (GAB) approved by the House.
Officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) have told senators that they requested a P180.89 billion budget for next year, which is higher by 144.35 percent compared to its budget this year, but this was decreased to P106.86 billion, or by 42 percent, in the NEP.
Ejercito decried that the reduction is not aligned with President Marcos Jr.’s call for a “full speed ahead” approach in the transport sector as he warned that delays in the implementation of the infrastructure projects will have an adverse effect on the people and the economy.
“Kaya nananawagan ako sa ating counterparts sa House of Representatives: huwag nating hayaan maging drawing lang ang mga proyektong ito (That’s why I am calling on our counterparts at the House of Representatives — let us not allow these projects to be delayed). Political issues may arise, but they should not distract us from delivering a budget that truly prioritizes the needs of the people – one that transcends politics, give life to meaningful programs, and genuinely uplifts the lives of every Filipino,” he said.
Ejercito said Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate finance committee, accommodated his recommendation to introduce additional funding to the DOTr’s budget during the budget deliberations in the Senate.
The bicameral panel convened last November 28 and is set to hold its second meeting next week.
