MANILA, Philippines – Senator Imee Marcos raised concerns over the recently approved national budget for 2024, revealing significant cuts to pensions for retired military and uniformed personnel, as well as retirement and separation benefits for government workers.
These reductions were made to accommodate the controversial Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
A comparison between the initially proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Congress and the finalized General Appropriations Act for 2024 highlights a staggering Php110.25-billion slash in the Pension and Gratuity Fund, dropping from Php253,205,826,000 to Php142,956,826,000.
Furthermore, Marcos lamented a Php5.4-billion decrease from the proposed Php15.31-billion budget for the Department of Migrant Workers in the NEP.
The finalized budget also omitted programmed funding for foreign-assisted flagship projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Chairing the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, Marcos emphasized that the Php26.7-billion AKAP, alongside an additional Php33 billion in unprogrammed funds, was inserted by the Lower House in the final version of the 2024 budget, with senators’ signatures added afterward.
“The President didn’t mention AKAP in the NEP, nor was it included in the bicameral version of the GAA. Yet, it mysteriously appeared in the final, printed version,” Marcos remarked.
Highlighting the lack of clarity surrounding AKAP’s allocation, Marcos cited the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) admission that guidelines for its implementation were still pending.
Senator Marcos announced plans to consult with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and DSWD ahead of a potential Senate investigation into AKAP.
This inquiry would be separate from the ongoing investigation by the Senate electoral reforms committee, which aims to verify the authenticity of a proposed People’s Initiative to revise the Constitution.
“Hindi ko kinokontra ang AKAP kundi ang tiwaling paggamit nito para sa pulitika. Alam naman natin ang national budget ngayong taon ay election budget,” Marcos stated, referring to the national and local elections in 2025.
(I am not opposed to AKAP itself, but rather its potential exploitation for political gain. We are well aware that this year’s national budget is geared towards the upcoming national and local elections in 2025.)
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