By Rodolfo Dacleson II
(January 20, 2025) – A lawmaker on Monday called on the government to publicize the bicameral committee report regarding the national budget amid the growing controversies.
Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas admitted that she only saw the changes made by the bicameral committee in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and not the full copy.
This came after former president Rodrigo Duterte claimed that some items were left blank in the 2025 GAA, echoing the allegations of Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab.
“Dapat transparent talaga ‘yun (bicameral committee report). Dapat kita ng taumbayan in every step of the way kung ano ‘yung ginagawa, ano ‘yung binabago,” said Brosas, the assistant minority leader, in an ambush interview.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. already refuted the claims of Duterte, saying the latter was “lying.”
ALSO READ: ‘He’s lying’: Marcos hits back at ex-pres. Duterte over alleged ‘blank items’ in 2025 nat’l budget
The Malacañang noted that the 2025 GAA could be accessed via the website of the Department of Budget and Management.
Brosas said she and her allies in the House of Representatives will look into the allegations.
“Dapat pinag-uusapan ‘yun at dapat walang blangko (sa national budget),” added Brosas, who is running as senator under the Makabayan bloc in the 2025 midterm elections.
The bicameral committee was slammed after restoring the P26 billion of Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), the pet project of House Speaker Martin Romualdez. He is a cousin of Marcos.
The Senate earlier gave zero budget to AKAP before the 2025 GAA was revised by the bicameral committee. In the amended version, senators have access to P5 billion of the said funding.
ALSO READ: ‘Shame on you’: Romualdez slammed after AKAP budget restored amid PhilHealth’s zero subsidy
On December 30, Marcos signed the budget bill worth P6.326 trillion, a slight decrease from his administration’s proposed P6.352 trillion after he vetoed line items worth over P194 billion. He later admitted that the national funding is “suboptimal.”
ALSO READ: Marcos seeking remedies for ‘suboptimal’ 2025 national budget
(With reports from Marianne Enriquez, News5)
(PM)
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