SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday urged the bicameral conference committee (bicam) on the 2025 national budget to come up with a spending measure that would respond to the daily needs of Filipinos.
“We’re all here because we’ve been trusted with a responsibility. Let’s live up to that trust. Let’s have honest, productive discussions, and let’s find the common ground that puts the people first,” Speaker Romualdez told the first meeting of the bicam tasked to reconcile the versions of the budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“We owe it to every Filipino who wakes up every day trying to make ends meet, hoping that their government has their back. Let’s give them a budget that says, ‘Yes, we hear you. Yes, we care. And yes, we’re doing something about it’,” he said.
The leader of the 300-plus-House said the bicam need not complicate its budget reconciliation deliberations.
“Let’s keep things practical and straightforward. We don’t need to overcomplicate this. Let’s focus on what will make the biggest difference for the Filipino people. The programs that matter, the services they rely on, and the investments that will move this country forward – those should be non-negotiable,” he said.
Speaker Romualdez reminded bicam members that the budget “has the power to either improve or disrupt the lives of millions of Filipinos.”
“This is no ordinary task. We’re not just crunching numbers; we’re crafting solutions to real problems faced by real people every single day,” he stressed.
Speaker Romualdez said the House made sure that its version of the budget “reflects the priorities of the Filipino people.”
“We focused on what’s urgent: keeping food prices down, creating jobs, making healthcare accessible, improving education, and ensuring disaster preparedness,” he said.
He said he was sure senators share these same goals.
“So now, it’s up to us in this bicam to bridge the gaps – not just between the House and the Senate but, more importantly, between what our people need and what we can deliver,” he said.
“This is where we prove that we’re capable of working together, not just as representatives of our respective chambers but as leaders who genuinely care about the future of this country,” he added.
The House leader pointed out that the two chambers “may have different approaches, but the outcome must be the same: a budget that works for everyone – from the farmers in rural provinces to the workers in urban centers, from small business owners to young students dreaming of a better life.”
“I know we can get this done, and I know we can do it right. So let’s get to work,” he told his colleagues.
