Press Release
August 28, 2008

ROXAS: BUDGET MUST FOCUS ON PEOPLE'S MOST PRESSING NEEDS PUSHES FOR BOOST IN AGRI, EDUCATION SPENDING

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said the 2009 budget, submitted by the Palace to Congress on Wednesday, must focus on the people's most pressing needs, and he thus called for a boost in spending in agriculture and education.

"The 2009 budget is P100 billion more than last year. We have a great opportunity to spend this P1.4-trillion effectively, but the government's spending priorities must change, or we will once more feel no change," he said.

"Mayroon tayong P1 trillion na budget ngayong taon, pero nararamdaman ba natin ito? Kahit lumaki ang budget natin sa trilyon na, patse-patse at tingi-tingi pa rin ang programa ng gobyerno. Walang tutok sa mga talagang pangangailangan ng taumbayan," he added. He called on Congress to align spending so as to prioritize food security at this time of record inflation rates, as seen in the high prices of rice, oil and other goods.

"Sa pagtalakay ng budget, kailangan munang siguraduhin ang pinaka-importanteng bagay ngayon: na makakain ang lahat sa abot-kayang halaga. Simulan na ang pagsiguro sa rice self-sufficiency natin sa pamamagitan ng matinding fertilizer support at pagsasaayos ng mga sistemang pang-irigasyon," he said.

For the long term, Roxas stressed that education spending must be focused on keeping kids in school and equipped with proper resources for learning.

"If the people are our country's greatest resource and our children hold our country's future, then our government must invest in our people through quality education. Our children have been shortchanged through the years that the government has neglected education," he said.

"At pinalalala pa ng krisis sa pagkain ngayon ang kakayahan ng mga estudyante na matuto. Malaki ang epekto ng malnutrition sa pag-aaral ng kabataan natin. Kaya dapat buhusan din ng suporta ang Food-for-School Program para manatili sa paaralan ang mga bata at para ma-absorb nila nang mabuti ang mga aralin," he stressed.

Roxas has filed bills to achieve short-term and long-term rice security, through a fertilizer support program, a change in mandate of the National Food Authority and rehabilitation of irrigation systems nationwide, among other provisions. He is also author of the proposed Omnibus Education Reform Act to align the country's education system with international standards.

News Latest News Feed