KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel criticized the decreased budget for agencies in the education sector, particularly the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education.

Manuel expressed disapproval over the ratification of the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the proposed P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget, highlighting funding changes that, he argued, move the country further away from true progress.

In his manifestation during the plenary following the GAB’s ratification, Manuel pointed out the funding changes in next year’s proposed budget, which he claimed were not improvements.

“Nakakapagtaka po ito lalo na habang tayo ay hindi pa nakakaahon sa education crisis pero itong mga ahensya na siyang may direktang mandato sa pagtiyak ng access at kalidad ng ating edukasyon ay kinaltasan pa ng budget ng bicam,” he said.

Manuel also mentioned that other agencies involved in social services faced budget cuts.

Regarding the health sector, he described the defunding of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. as a significant challenge for the agency in fulfilling its obligations. He also found it surprising that the Department of Health’s budget was reduced.

“So how can we expect to have better healthcare services kung merong P25.8-trillion budget cut sa DOH kung ikukumpara yung bicam version sa National Expenditure Program ng ating national budget?” he added.