Camille Naredo

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers his message during the welcome lunch for the Philippine delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 at the Grandhotel Belvedere in Davos, Switzerland  on January 15, 2024. Handout/House of Representatives

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers his message during the welcome lunch for the Philippine delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 at the Grandhotel Belvedere in Davos, Switzerland  on January 15, 2024, Monday (Switzerland time). He said the delegation will strive to make their engagements productive and ultimately beneficial to the Philippines and the Filipino people.
House of Representatives handout

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DAVOS FORUM

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173452910510620240116-martin-romualdez-davos-HO2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers his message during the welcome lunch for the Philippine delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 at the Grandhotel Belvedere in Davos, Switzerland  on January 15, 2024. Handout/House of Representatives"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers his message during the welcome lunch for the Philippine delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 at the Grandhotel Belvedere in Davos, Switzerland  on January 15, 2024. <em>Handout/House of Representatives</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- House Speaker Martin Romualdez defended on Wednesday the funding for the government’s cash assistance programs amid allegations that some are politicizing it, saying these programs are implemented by agencies, with actual beneficiaries and receipts.</p><p>Romualdez seemed to take a swipe at the utilization of confidential funds by the offices led by Vice President Sara Duterte, which congressmen flagged over alleged spurious acknowledgment receipts and over a thousand supposed recipients that have no birth record with the Philippine Statistics Authority.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/16/1-300-ovp-confidential-fund-recipients-have-no-birth-records-psa-says-1743">Systematic fraud? 1,300 OVP confidential fund recipients have no birth records, PSA says</a> </div><p>“Lahat ng programang ito, may totoong benepisyaryo, may totoong resibo. Walang notice of disallowance mula sa Commission on Audit,” the House Speaker said when he addressed the plenary.</p><p>“Sa mga kontra sa ayuda, handang ipakita ng administrasyong ito kung saan napunta ang bawat sentimong inilaan para rito. Ang may hawak ng pondo, ang mga departamento tulad ng DSWD, DOLE, at DOH, sila ang nagpapatakbo ng mga programa, hindi ang Kongreso,” Romualdez added.</p><p>“This House will also stand firm in defending the provision of ayuda for the people… To those who doubted the importance of social safety nets, let this be a reminder: Ayuda is not charity. It is justice,” he noted.</p><p>Duterte previously warned the public against politicians who are allegedly using the DSWD’s (Department of Social Welfare and Development) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) to win their favor, especially in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections. </p><p>The DSWD had denied this claim.</p><p>The bicameral conference committee kept the House-proposed 2025 funding for the controversial AKAP, but with a reduced amount of P26 billion from about P39 billion.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/15/wrap-cuts-to-deped-philhealth-as-2025-budget-bill-nears-finish-line-2124">WRAP: Cuts to DepEd, PhilHealth as 2025 budget bill nears finish line</a></div><p>The proposed 2025 budget ratified by both Houses of Congress has also been criticized over the P12 billion cut in the proposed funding for the Department of Education, and the removal of the government subsidy on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Congressmen explained both agencies have spending efficiency issues.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/16/marcos-jr-vows-to-work-on-restoring-deped-budget-cut-1614">Marcos Jr. vows to work on restoring Deped budget cut</a></div><p>House Speaker Romualdez said the proposed budget of Congress “reflects the pulse of the nation”, and government agencies’ capacity to utilized their funds.</p><p>“Ang budget na ibinigay natin sa departments at agencies, ‘yun lang kaya nilang gastusin sa loob ng isang taon — walang labis, walang kulang,” he stressed.</p><p>“Bawat miyembro ng pamilya, may reklamo sa budget na nakalaan sa kanya. Pero sa kabuuan, ang desisyon ng pamilya ay para sa isang budget na makakabuti para sa lahat. The same goes for the 2025 General Appropriations Act. While not everyone will be satisfied with the 2025 National Budget, it is a budget that mirrors the true needs of our people, not just for daily survival, but for building a stronger foundation for a brighter and better future,” Romualdez said.</p><div><strong>OTHER PRIORITY LEGISLATIONS</strong></div><p>The House of Representatives has passed 27 of the 28 priority measures identified by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council for passage by the end of the 19th Congress, according to Romualdez.</p><p>&quot;Tapos na natin lahat ng homework natin para sa taong ito. At siguradong mission accomplished tayo sa iba pang batas bago matapos ang termino sa 19th Congress,” the House Speaker said.</p>

<p>House Speaker Martin Romualdez defended on Wednesday the funding for the government’s cash assistance programs amid allegations that some are politicizing it, saying these programs are implemented by agencies, with actual beneficiaries and receipts.</p>

House Speaker Martin Romualdez defended on Wednesday the funding for the government’s cash assistance programs amid allegations that some are politicizing it, saying these programs are implemented by agencies, with actual beneficiaries and receipts.

Romualdez defends funding for ayuda: 'May totoong benepisyaro, resibo'

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Romualdez defends funding for ayuda: 'May totoong benepisyaro, resibo'

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 18, 2024 10:20 PM PHT

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