Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday emphasized the need for a national budget that reflects a shared commitment to uplift even the most marginalized communities to ensure an inclusive and equitable allocation of resources.
This call comes as the Senate prepares to discuss the proposed 2025 national budget this week, a crucial step that will determine the government’s financial priorities and how it addresses the country’s most pressing needs.
“Kung ano ang ating itatanim, iyan din ang ating aanihin,” Cayetano said, underscoring the long-term impact of government spending on Filipinos’ daily lives.
“We need a national budget that leaves no Filipino behind. Walang iwanan dapat,” he added.
Cayetano said the budget should reflect the government’s role as a “second parent,” stepping in to equalize opportunities for all, particularly for those at the margins of society.
“All of us live in a country where your last name and where you were born matters. This is why the government is here as second parents to try to equalize opportunities,” he said.
For Cayetano, the Senate’s duty is to ensure that public funds go to the people and sectors most in need, from education and healthcare to job creation.
During the Senate session on November 5, 2024, Senator Joel Villanueva, former Secretary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), expressed his gratitude to Cayetano, chair of the Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education Committee, for his support in advancing technical education and assessing the competencies of senior high school (K-12) graduates.
“Sa TESDA po, tayo po ay nagsulong ng mga dagdag pondo sa iba’t iabng programa. Ilan po dito y’ung pagtitibay natin sa close to 500 million na assessment sa atin pong mga senior high school o K-12 graduates. Ito po ang naging resulta ng diskusyon natin sa EDCOM II (Second Congressional Commission on Education). Salamat kay Commissioner Alan Peter Cayetano na kasama natin sa EDCOM II,” he said.
Earlier this year, Cayetano also made an appeal to the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to ensure the efficient allocation of the 2025 national budget, particularly around the potential risks of online gambling, the country’s foreign loan strategy, and the need for increased housing aid.
Cayetano stressed that investing in the 2025 budget is essential to enhancing the welfare of every Filipino and ensuring a brighter future for all.
“We owe it to every Filipino to invest in their welfare and secure a future that everyone can look forward to,” he said.
