By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Senate Finance Committee chairman JV Ejercito vowed to restore ₱130 billion in funding cuts to foreign-assisted projects in the proposed 2027 national budget, warning that reduced allocations could delay major infrastructure developments.
Ejercito said the cuts could affect projects such as the North-South Commuter Railway and Metro Manila Subway System, stressing that the government must honor its financial commitments to foreign lenders and provide counterpart funding.
The proposed budget approved by the House of Representatives allocated ₱130 billion less than the original ₱414-billion funding for foreign-assisted projects.
Ejercito also pledged to restore funding for PhilHealth and increase the Department of Education’s allocation to at least four percent of gross domestic product.
He acknowledged that budget deliberations would be difficult because of limited fiscal resources but vowed stricter scrutiny of proposed projects and congressional insertions.
Meanwhile, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco backed Ejercito’s initiative, demanding transparency, complete documentation and clear justification for every taxpayer-funded project.
Tiangco said lawmakers should publicly disclose their proposed infrastructure projects and explain why these deserve government funding.
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