The bicameral conference committee (bicam) is the most powerful and the weakest phase in our budgeting process.  

It is in the bicam where vested interests not only lurk but also come to fruition. Without benefit of deliberations, its members reduce the funding of agencies, transfer funds from one program to another, defund programs, and increase the funding of other programs. Because the decision-making process is neither open to the public nor documented, bicam members can shamelessly juggle funds. The lack of transparency blurs accountability.  No one can be held accountable for who did what.  

The bicam provides lawmakers a perfect getaway for their selfish intent.  And because its members act like an old boys’ club and a bad fraternity, no one serves as the conscience, no one has the courage to question and to say no. What a shame!

We will never find out who proposed the P11.5-billion reduction in the education budget in the general appropriations for 2025, and why. Education has long been in crisis, with our children finishing at the bottom of international assessments in reading and math.  Only 1 out of 10 children can read well!  A budget cut removes lifeline programs meant to increase our students’ learning performance.

And, pray tell us, why was the budget for health slashed by P25 billion? And who can appreciate zero subsidy for PhilHealth when its services should cover nonpaying members of our community, such as seniors and the poor? Certainly, PhilHealth’s services and efficiency need to be improved and strengthened. But its strengthening cannot be done through a huge budget cut of P75.4 billion. Perhaps a better dose is a change in its management structure.

And why in heaven’s name has the budget for agriculture been slashed by P20 billion? Agriculture, where most of our poor are, is already on the brink of death with low productivity, fledgling assistance from the central government, and outdated technology. With very limited resources, we can expect food prices to continue to soar, with the continuous importation of rice, meat, and vegetables as the band-aid solution.

We can safely surmise that the transfer of massive resources, P288.6 billion, to the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways was intended to put more resources into the hands of legislators. They can dip into the infrastructure fund so that more roads and buildings can be built in places of their liking. They brandish infrastructure projects as their accomplishments, yet nothing can be farther from the truth. Roads and bridges are built from the people’s hard-earned money paid as taxes. Also, let us not forget that road and bridge projects camouflage fat commissions that lawmakers get from contractors. What used to be 40% of project costs has risen to 70%, as some quarters claim.

And as if the legislators were not content with Congress’ massive share of the nation’s wealth, the bicam members moved to fatten their budget with another P17.3 billion for the House of Representatives and P1.5 billion for the Senate. There are now more funds for more junkets, bigger allowances, and more money that can be doled out to buy loyalty and votes. While they appear to be helping the needy, the legislators constantly strip us of our dignity by having us swallow our pride in begging them for medical assistance and lining up at “Malasakit centers.”  What a farce, when medical assistance is our own money.

The bicam weakens an important program that premises assistance on a cost-share by the poor. The 4Ps program has been proven effective in helping the poor, provided their children are sent to school and brought to health centers.  Assistance is premised on the condition that parents participate in workshops that build their skills and values. The bicam defunded the 4Ps by P50 billion, and the resources were placed into the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita (Akap) program of Speaker Martin Romualdez. Note that this program was not part of the budget proposed by the Executive, and was slashed by the Senate—but not for good reasons, as the Senate proposed another dole: the AICS, or  Assistance to Individuals in Crisis.  

We can hear the congressmen singing, “Happy times are here again.” They would have several billions of pesos that they can dispense so that mendicants can forever lick their asses and blindly obey their commands, especially who to vote for. The system of election through purchase continues without end. Congress seems to be a source of initiatives that disempower people and convert them into mendicants.

I have witnessed how the bicam decimated tax reforms, initiatives to strengthen the tax incentive system, and mining laws, among many others. Legislators served as spokespersons for rent-seekers and vested interests. They represented vested interests themselves. Sometimes, we see mavericks saying no, but evil intents are often carried out in silence.  

I often wonder if there is a Superman who can save us from the bicam. Can the President be the next Superman and protect the nation’s interests? 

Milwida M. Guevara served as undersecretary of finance in the Ramos administration. —Ed.