Public funds should be felt by Filipinos and not lost to corruption, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said as Congress prepares to tackle the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.
Pangilinan said every peso in the budget should translate into concrete benefits, including lower food prices, better jobs and higher incomes for workers, farmers, fisherfolk and small businesses.
He said agriculture and food security should remain key priorities, with funds going not only to production but also to irrigation, farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities, cold storage, transportation and extension services.
The senator also called for stronger healthcare funding to make consultations and medicines more accessible, improve hospitals and health centers, and expand PhilHealth coverage.
Families hit by typhoons, floods, earthquakes and other disasters should likewise receive timely assistance and rehabilitation, he said.
Pangilinan also vowed to closely scrutinize flood-control projects, particularly their planning, procurement and implementation.
“Our people deserve flood-control projects that work, and a government that can account for every peso spent,” he said.
He said the 2027 budget should focus on food, healthcare, education, electricity, water, transportation, jobs and disaster assistance.
“Every peso collected from the Filipino people must be spent for their benefit,” Pangilinan said.IMT
