The recently approved Philippine national budget for 2025, signed into law by President Bongbong Marcos on December 30th, has ignited a firestorm of controversy. While the President vetoed ₱194 billion to align spending with his administration’s priorities, a significant portion remains deeply questionable and raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the potential for widespread corruption. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) stands at the center of this debate, receiving a record-breaking budget of ₱1.113 trillion – a figure inflated by an additional ₱288.65 billion.

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This massive allocation for the DPWH comes at a steep cost.  Other crucial sectors, including education (DepEd), higher education (CHED), social welfare (4Ps), and healthcare (PhilHealth), experienced budget cuts to accommodate the DPWH’s expansion. This raises fundamental questions about the government’s priorities. Is prioritizing infrastructure development over essential social services truly the path to national progress?  The potential consequences of neglecting education, healthcare, and social safety nets are far-reaching and could undermine long-term development goals.

The situation is further exacerbated by the staggering increase in unprogrammed funds.  These funds, intended for unforeseen circumstances, have skyrocketed from ₱158 billion in 2024 to a jaw-dropping ₱537 billion for 2025.  Such a dramatic increase fuels suspicions of corruption, suggesting a potential mechanism for misappropriating funds under the guise of unforeseen needs.  The sheer scale of these unprogrammed funds raises serious concerns about their potential misuse and the devastating impact this could have on the most vulnerable members of Filipino society.

President Marcos’s claim of a thorough review and vetoing of inconsistent line items offers little reassurance.  The sheer magnitude of the DPWH’s budget and the substantial increase in unprogrammed funds necessitate a far more transparent and accountable process.  A comprehensive, independent audit of DPWH spending is crucial to ensure that public funds are used effectively and ethically.  Furthermore, a reassessment of budgetary priorities is essential to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources that benefits all Filipinos, not just those involved in infrastructure projects.

The current budget allocation raises serious doubts about the government’s commitment to genuine progress and social justice.  True national development requires a balanced approach that invests in both infrastructure and the well-being of its citizens.  The road to progress must be paved not only with concrete but also with transparency, accountability, and a genuine commitment to uplifting all Filipinos.  Without these fundamental principles, the 2025 budget risks becoming a highway to corruption rather than a pathway to development.

Filipinos, our move