PBBM VOWS ALL PUBLIC FUNDS WOULD REDOUND TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE

“Tiyakin na ang bawat sentimo ay mapupunta sa maganda, para pagandahin ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday vowed to safeguard public funds and ensure they are spent wisely for the welfare of Filipinos, assuring that past abuses in the implementation of multi billion-peso flood control and infrastructure projects will not be repeated.

“Titiyakin po natin na hindi na po mauulit ‘yung ating nakita. Titiyakin po natin na bawat sentimo na pera ninyo – hindi namin pera ito, pera ninyo na ibinahagi ninyo sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan,” President Marcos said in his remarks at the Gonzaga People’s Gymnasium where he led the distribution of assistance to typhoon-affected residents and farmers in Cagayan.

The President stressed that the government serves only as “custodian” of taxpayers’ money, which should be used to improve the lives of Filipino families under the Bagong Pilipinas.

“Kami po ay kung tawagin ay ‘custodian’ lang, tiga-bantay lang kami sa pera ninyo. Hindi amin ‘yan. Sa inyo pa rin ‘yan,” President Marcos stressed.

“Pero sa amin ang responsibilidad, ang katungkulan na tiyakin na ang bawat sentimo ay mapupunta sa maganda, para pagandahin po ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan, para maging mas maginhawa ang buhay ng inyong mga pamilya, para po sa pagpaganda at pag-usbong ng ating ginagawa, na binubuo na Bagong Pilipinas,” the Chief Executive added.

President Marcos announced the realignment of the P255.55 billion allocation for locally funded flood control projects in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) proposed budget for next year.

“Kung hindi po natin ginawa ‘yan, ‘yang 255 billion na ‘yan kung saan-saan na lang mapupunta. Kaya mabuti, kaya kinansela na po natin lahat ng flood control project para sa 2026 at iyan po ang naging savings natin,” said the President.

The P255.5 billion flood control funds would be transferred to the priority programs of other agencies, including:P35.91 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), psychosocial support to teen mothers, Disability Inclusive Social Protection of Children; Project Safe against sexual abuse, construction of the Mindanao Disaster Resource Center, construction of five Bahay Pagasa, Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP); P26.55 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) for construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, school-based feeding programs, education of indigenous peoples, Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program, salary of non-DepEd ARAL tutors, flexible learning options, Madrasah Education, and Special Needs Education Program; P39.37 billion to the Department of Agriculture (DA) for farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities, presidential assistance to farmers and fisherfolk, crop insurance, solar powered irrigation, deep water ports for agri industrial product, fishport construction, cold storage, national social health program, farm to mill road, and massive coconut planting program;

The P29.28 billion will go to the Department of Health (DOH) for Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program, completion of legacy hospitals and children with cancer at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center;P60 billion to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Centers, Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment; P9.3 billion to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for scholarships and student assistance; P1 billion to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); P450 million to the Philippine Science High School System; P3 billion to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT); P18 billion to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program and the Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program;

Some P5 billion to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for the repair and restoration of new irrigation systems, communal irrigation system, and pump irrigation; P2.5 billion to the Department of Information and Communication (DICT); P4.62 million to the Department of Energy (DOE) for the electrification program; P135 million to the Department of Finance (DOF) for the anti-agricultural smuggling campaign; and P4 million to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the waste-to-energy project.