Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday presented a four-point appeal to the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to ensure the efficient allocation of the 2025 national budget: scrutinize online gambling, provide safeguards for the contracting of foreign loans, improve housing programs, and provide targeted aid to Filipinos in need.
This appeal came after the Senate’s briefing with the DBCC on the proposed 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP) on August 14, 2024, which also included a presentation from the Department of Finance (DOF).
“Kung ano ang ating itatanim, iyan din ang ating aanihin,” Cayetano said, stressing that the choices made in shaping the 2025 budget will directly influence the country’s future.
Cayetano’s first point urged the DBCC and the DOF to “put perspective” on online gambling. He argued that even without a cost-benefit analysis, it is clear that online gambling poses a significant moral and social risk to the public.
“Even without any cost benefit analysis, it’s a scientific fact that an addiction that is openly offered and made available to people who are susceptible to that addiction, then patay na tayo,” he said.
Expressing gratitude for President Marcos’ stance on banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), Cayetano called on the government to also consider eradicating online gambling in the country.
On his second point, Cayetano emphasized the need to exercise fiscal prudence and safeguards before contracting a loan. “The only limitation is [that] provided in the Constitution which states that no money shall be spent without appropriation,” he said.
On improving housing programs, Cayetano questioned the feasibility of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar’s declaration that housing units will become more affordable to Filipinos, given the existing backlogs and growing demand.
“I want him and the housing sector to succeed, but the plan has to be workable,” Cayetano said, noting the significant gap between the 98,000 units the department is expected to deliver in 2024 and the 4,000 units allegedly accomplished in 2023.
Last year, the DHSUD said the average cost of a low-cost housing would be between P933,000 to P1.6 million. Assuming that the unit price is set at P1 million, with a target of 3.2 million houses for 2028, the cost for the country would be P3.2 trillion.
Cayetano also highlighted the practicality of sovereign guarantees for the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program (4PH), given the substantial funding required for housing projects and to address backlogs in residential units.
“Ang point ko lang, [maganda na] y’ung minimum wage owners ay mabibigyan ng ownership ng bahay, but the economics has to work, hindi pwedeng lahat,” he added.
Cayetano concluded by urging the government to focus aid provisions on “targeted” beneficiaries within its approximately P590 billion budget, to ensure that those most in need are prioritized.
“Actually with that amount, you can give all the poor families P20,000 pesos each, theoretically,” he said.
“We should really look at which ayuda we should keep targeted, and which we should just directly give,” he added. ###
