SENATE, Pasay City — Describing the current proposed 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) as a "very bad" budget, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (PBBM)'s elder sister, Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios 'Imee' Marcos, has expressed strong opposition to plans to 'reenact' next year's national budget.

Speaking candidly during a Senate media forum, Marcos argued that improving the budget's contents was better than rushing its passage.

"There is no need to revert to a re-enacted budget; we still have a few days. All of us should be patient enough to approve this budget. The poor do not have a vacation, so let's not rush it. Let's ensure that every cent is accounted for and fair," she pointed out while urging her brother PBBM TO thoroughly scrutinize the budget bill before signing it.

The lady senator cited that government funds could have been better allocated to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for dialysis treatments for more than 60,000 patients at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).

Besides PhilHealth' predicament of a proposed 'zero' subsidy, the Department of Education (DepEd) is also facing significant funding cuts for 2025 with ₱11.570 billion slashed from its budget, including ₱10 billion from the computerization program, 200,000 laptops will no longer be provided to teachers and students.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) likewise faces a ₱22.363-billion cutback, which includes a reduction of ₱9.645 billion from the agency's National Rice Program.

"How can we achieve the target of ₱29 per kilo of rice if funding for agriculture continues to be reduced?" the presidential sister asked.

Based on the proposed national budget for 2025, funding for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which has almost 4.4 million beneficiaries, has been trimmed by ₱50 billion.

"As a result, families relying on this program may only receive support until June 2025," Marcos claimed as she noted that some budget allocations appear to be planned for use in 'vote-buying', especially with the elections approaching.

"It is too obvious! Instead of prioritizing education, health and social services, vague projects are being favored," she highlighted. In conclusion, the Senator stressed that "the budget must be reviewed because it should serve the interests of the entire population and not just a select few."