Budget Watchdog Proposes ₱233 Billion Boost for Marginalized Sectors, Identifies ₱297 Billion in Questionable Funds for Reallocation
In the midst of Senate deliberations on the 2026 national budget, the advocacy group Social Watch Philippines (SWP) is urging lawmakers to inject an additional ₱233.2 billion into programs for marginalized sectors, identifying nearly ₱300 billion in what it calls “questionable” budget items as the potential funding source.
The proposals, submitted under SWP’s Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI), were already discussed with the office of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and other senators. SWP, a coalition of over 100 civil society organizations, has advocated for people-centered budgeting since 1997.
Key Funding Recommendations
The watchdog’s comprehensive proposal targets critical underfunding in health, education, and social welfare:
- Health: SWP warned of a severe underfunding crisis for the Universal Health Care program, with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) allocated only ₱53.3 billion against its requested ₱242 billion. The group is proposing a massive ₱189.28 billion increase to ensure adequate health insurance for all Filipinos.
- Education: Programs for marginalized learners, including Indigenous Peoples Education, Special Needs Education, and the Alternative Learning System, receive less than 2% of the Department of Education’s total budget. SWP seeks ₱28 billion to address this inequity.
- Child Protection: Citing 2022 data showing over 471,000 children trafficked for pornography, SWP flagged insufficient support. It recommended ₱122 million for healthcare units for child victims and ₱18.3 million for child participation in prevention programs.
- Mental Health & Schools: To address bullying and child protection issues, the group urged the hiring of more counselors and funded mental health programs, requesting ₱6.84 billion for the Basic Mental Health Act and ₱126 million for specific DepEd mental health and protection initiatives.
- Persons with Disabilities: SWP pushed for a ₱2,000 monthly allowance for persons with severe disabilities, a ₱8.78 billion program to support approximately 345,000 Filipinos.
Identified Sources for Reallocation
SWP stated the additional funding can be sourced without increasing the overall budget by reallocating ₱297.4 billion from programs it deems questionable. The largest items identified include:
- ₱132.3 billion – Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG)
- ₱49.2 billion – Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (proposed for reallocation to PhilHealth)
- ₱32 billion – Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)
- ₱31.8 billion – Basic Education Facilities beyond the agency’s request
- ₱16.8 billion – Farm-to-market roads
- ₱10.5 billion – House of Representatives additional budget
- ₱10 billion – Presidential assistance to farmers and fisherfolk
- ₱14.8 billion – TUPAD livelihood program
The group argues that redirecting these funds would significantly increase the budget for essential social services and support for the country’s most vulnerable populations.#
