Prioritizing people’s health and needs

The present and ongoing pandemic has clarified more distinctly the top priorities to protect people and our planet. Containing the virus, protecting people’s health and lives, confronting hunger and joblessness and protecting the environment are urgent goals that need to be addressed immediately and in the long run.

One would expect, given these obvious, visible urgent necessities, that the government would prioritize these health, food, and economic needs in the proposed 2021 budget.

The government is proposing a P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021 which is higher than the 2020 budget by 9.9% percent and equivalent to 21.8% of Gross Domestic Product.

With the theme “Reset, Rebound and Recover: Investing for resiliency and sustainability,” the Department of Budget Management (DBM) explained that the proposed budget is “consistent with the administration’s goal of saving lives and protecting communities while making different sectors of the economy stronger and more agile.” The proposed 2021 budget, DBM contends, “aims to sustain government efforts towards effectively responding to COVID-19 pandemic and will focus government spending on improving the country’s healthcare systems, ensuring food security, increasing investments in public and digital infrastructure, and helping communities cope and prevail in these trying times.

A closer examination/review of the proposed 2021 budget, however, has raised questions and criticisms from various lawmakers. The proposed budget seems to be very far and distant from the proposed theme and goals mentioned by the DBM.

For one, critics are quick to question why the budget for health comes fifth and the budget to address hunger and unemployment not among top priorities in the proposed 2021 budget.

Note these proposed budget items carefully: 1. Education (P754. 4B) 2. DPWH (P667.3B), 3. DILG (P246.1B), 4. Defense (P209.1B), and 5. Health (P203.1B).

Senator Franklin Drilon questioned why the health budget for next year is lower than the 2020 budget when protecting public health is of utmost importance.

Our people’s food needs are also not prioritized for 2021.

The Department of Agriculture’s initially proposed a budget of P284.4 billion for 2021 to help the sector recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the government slashed this amount and proposed a P66.4-billion budget which is even lower than the DA’s 2020 budget of P79.9 billion!

In contrast to the “anemic” and “meager” funding for health, anti-hunger, employment and other social services, this administration is asking for huge funds, trillions for infrastructure for DPWH (P667.3B), DILG (P246.1B), and. Defense (P209.1B)!

Recall that past huge budgets for DPWH and DILG never produced steady employment and adequate provisions for people!

Under normal conditions, if the pandemic weren’t around, prioritizing the education budget would be welcomed. With the decision to resume classes all throughout the country during this pandemic, budget will be needed to meet the digital requirements of online education, especially for the poorer students.

However, with the pandemic, the immediate and urgent needs are for food and employment. Why these are not being prioritized in the proposed budget raises questions about the sincerity of this government in genuinely and immediately addressing the pressing needs of our people.

While in paper, the proposed budget of P26.5B for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on paper seems promising (P181.9B) proposed to address effects of climate change through several programs like the Forest Protection Program (P0.8 billion), National Greening Program (P5.2 billion, Protected Areas Development and Management Program (P0.7 billion, skeptics are wary if the DENR will really protect the environment given past and present eco-unfriendly practices and lapses of the agency.

Yes to a 2021 budget that genuinely prioritizes people’s urgent needs!