The Makati Business Club (MBC) offered the services of its members to create a more transparent and accountable budget process, as it raised concerns on the 2025 national budget which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself described as “sub-optimal.”
The MBC called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take immediate action, particularly in response to amendments introduced by Congress during the bicameral conference.
“The current budget, as approved by the bicameral committee, is neither transparent nor focused on addressing the true needs of the Filipino people,” said the MBC in a statement.
It emphasized the need for long-term reforms to the budget process to avoid similar issues in the future.
It also noted that reducing allocations for key social services like education, healthcare and social aid, and replacing them with local infrastructure projects and politically driven programs, risks undermining the country’s long-term economic stability.
The group supported the recommendation of former Senate President Frank Drilon to classify all Congressional amendments to the 2025 budget as “For Later Release” (FLR), preventing these funds from being used for electioneering purposes.
The MBC also expressed appreciation for the President’s veto of P26 billion from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget, but highlighted that the remaining structure of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) still fails to meet the nation’s priorities.
It highlighted important social services that remain underfunded, and said the allocations made by the bicameral conference committee do not sufficiently address the immediate or long-term needs of the Filipino people.
“The approach taken by Congress, focusing on discretionary spending instead of essential social services, is a dangerous precedent. It fosters dependency and political patronage, while diverting funds away from programs that could genuinely help improve the lives of Filipinos,” the MBC said.
The MBC also urged policymakers to ensure that future budgets prioritize the long-term economic health of the nation. In particular, they are advocating for reforms that would open the budget process to greater public engagement and transparency.
Members also suggested that the records from the bicameral conference process be made public to ensure greater accountability in decision-making.
The group also called for a shift in focus towards conditional cash transfers, such as the 4Ps program, instead of expanding unconditional cash transfers, and for clearer transparency in the distribution of these funds.
