Senator Risa Hontiveros voted yes to the Senate’s 2026 budget, praising “critical and timely” funding boosts for students, OFWs, and women and children — while vowing to keep fighting for stronger health funding and protection of the Sierra Madre.
Hontiveros thanked senators for approving bigger budgets for free higher education, including a P7.35B increase for state universities and colleges, plus added funds for key health programs such as Philippine General Hospital’s liver transplant services, Quirino Medical Center’s cochlear implant and brain surgery programs, geriatric medical equipment, and a new community hospital in Mindoro.
The senator also secured expanded funds for OFW “help desks” in 82 provinces, and restored a higher budget for the National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Material to combat online sexual abuse of children.
Other wins include strengthenedCommission on Audit pre-audits to curb corruption and fairer, faster implementation of the PUV Modernization Program.
However, Hontiveros expressed disappointment that additional funding for PhilHealth subsidies and the Sierra Madre Watershed Protection Fund was not approved.
She vowed to keep pushing for these priorities in future budget cycles, saying health, education, and the environment “ay dapat sapat na pondohan ng pamahalaan.”IMT
