The Catholic Church in the Philippines has criticized the 2025 national budget, calling it 'ayuda-driven,' and urging the public to reject it. They argue that the budget prioritizes financial aid over programs that empower people and fosters corruption. The Marcos administration defends the budget, stating that it redirects funds towards social good and economic progress with stricter conditions to ensure transparency and prevent partisan interests.
Malacañang defended the 2025 national budget on Monday following criticism from Catholic Church leaders who urged Filipinos to reject what they described as an 'ayuda-driven' spending plan that fosters corruption and patronage politics. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated, 'The President directly vetoed the largest amount of appropriations in history. No president before him had ever so deeply and comprehensively purged the budget of unnecessary items.
' Bersamin explained that President Marcos redirected billions of pesos toward projects promoting social good and economic progress, implementing stricter conditions to ensure funds align with national priorities and remain free from partisan interests. The Palace also emphasized that the budget is ultimately financed by taxpayers and must reflect their sacrifices. Earlier, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) criticized the misuse of public funds and resources, citing questionable budget insertions and allocations. Caritas Philippines Executive Director Fr. Tito Caluag echoed this call, stating that the national budget should prioritize programs empowering people rather than relying on financial aid. While the administration maintains its commitment to driving economic growth and improving public services, critics warn that the budget could be used as a tool for political patronage ahead of the elections. This budget debate unfolds as the Marcos administration continues to defend its economic policies amidst rising inflation and calls for greater transparency in government spending
PHILIPPINES NATIONAL BUDGET CATHOLIC CHURCH CORRUPTION PATRONAGE POLITICS MARCOS ADMINISTRATION
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