Approved 2012 budget skewed vs peoples’ needs
Meager spending for social services show that the 2012 budget is anti-people and far from being a ‘reform budget’.” – Vencer Crisostomo, national chairman of Anakbayan.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
Sidebar: Filipinos get P1.25 for health, P6.55 for education per day
MANILA – Regina Decangchon, 18, failed to enroll for the second semester in the University of the Philippines-Manila because of previous unpaid tuition. Sadly, she may no longer go back to studying. “My parents can no longer afford to send me to school,” Decangchon told Bulatlat.com.
There are more than 8,000 out-of-school youths like Decangchon who expressed fears that more and more students will be forced to abandon their studies due to high tuition. “State universities and colleges are increasing tuition fees to survive because the government is continually reducing the budget for social services like education.”
On Nov. 29, Decangchon and other students, teachers, health workers and health professionals, migrants and women linked up to show their rage at the swiftly approved 2012 national budget. Calling the said budget as “anti-people,” peoples’ organizations under Kilos na Laban sa Budget Cut and Coalition for Health Budget Increase marched from España avenue to Chino Roces Bridge (former Mendiola Bridge) carrying banners condemning the “anti-people national budget.”
“It is sad that teachers and students have to take a leave from work and be absent from their classes; that they have to march under the scorching sun all because the President is not listening to the call of the Filipino people,” said Prof. Ferdinand Bondami of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).
On Nov. 22, the Philippine Senate approved the P1.816 trillion ($41 billion) proposed national budget for next year. It was greeted by “Days of Rage” protest actions held Nov. 24 to 25 reportedly to show disgust over the railroading of 2012 budget in the Senate.
But a week later, on Nov. 29, the national budget for 2012 was ratified by the Bicameral Committee. It is now expected to be signed two weeks later, or by Dec. 15, by President Benigno S. Aquino III. If that happens, it would be just the second time in 11 years that the succeeding year’s national budget was approved before the current year ended.
In the approved 2012 budget, P30 million ($687 thousand) was heaped additionally to the budget of the Department of National Defense (DND), as payment for a property of the Philippine Navy in Puerto Princesa and another P25 million ($572,715) for reconstructing and renovating the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and buildings of the Philippine Military Academy..... MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/12/02/approved-2012-budget-skewed-vs-peoples%E2%80%99-needs/