LEADERS of the House of Representatives on Tuesday assured that ample support will be given to the defense of the country’s territory and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the proposed P6.352 trillion 2025 national budget, saying that lawmakers will provide sufficient funding for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
During Tuesday’s daily press briefing with the media, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe both said budget deliberations on the National Expenditure Program (NEP) will be reflective of the desires of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his recent SONA.
“The policy is always being set by the President and we take guidance from his SONA, and everyone in the House (of Representatives) knows how the President gives importance on defending our national territory and integrity,” said Dalipe.
“So, we in the House of Representatives take cue from the pronouncement of President Bongbong Marcos and no doubt, I think each member of the majority bloc would be in full support of the President in giving more support to the Philippines Coast Guard and all other agencies that would help protect … especially our fisherfolks in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. “So, susuportahan po namin yung pronouncement ni Presidente.”
The House of Representatives is set to deliberate next week on the 2025 NEP submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) three weeks before the constitutionally mandated deadline.
Gonzales echoed the statements of Dalipe, saying that House members led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez have been saying that they will increase the funding for the PCG, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
“In addition ano, we were in Masinloc I think two months ago, one of our topics and discussions is to increase the budget of the Philippine Coast Guard and the BFAR as far as the fisherfolks are concerned,” Gonzales expressed. “So, ‘yun po ‘yung napag usapan. Palagay ko po, on our budget deliberation, we will tackle that issue and I understand na Congressman [Jay] Khonghun was the one who asked that and the issue of his kababayan in Zambales and of course, the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
