Various opposition groups, led by Clergy for Good Governance, called for amendments to the 2025 National Budget during an Ecumenical Prayer Service on Monday.
Bishops from various churches united in prayer for the restoration of the budget, particularly for the Department of Education and PhilHealth, which experienced cuts.
In a press conference, co-convenor Fr. Tony Labiao stated that the group’s reaction to this year’s bicameral report was ‘spontaneous.’
“For governance to be good, we need to have transparency. We wished that the budget was created with no hidden machinations. We felt that it could have been deliberated in the plenary and not in the bicameral committee,” he said.
Labiao also clarified that, while he is not against distributing ayuda or cash aid, he questions why such assistance must be provided by politicians instead of through government agencies.
Former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno, who also attended the event, lamented the state of this year’s appropriations due to ‘corruption.’
“What we see here is the continuous deterioration in what is being prioritized in our budget. We observe that the budget is being designed to sustain corrupt politicians,” she said in Filipino.
Magno also called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto the entire budget and urged Congress to convene thoroughly on the matter. Otherwise, she warned that the group would take the case to the Supreme Court.
The prayer rally was attended by members of the Aglipayan Church, various evangelical groups, as well as opposition political figures and parties.
