Senator vows to help fund gov't priority projects 

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito on Friday pledged to help ensure that all priority projects of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would be funded in 2025, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

Ejercito made the assurance as the Senate and the House of Representatives move to reconcile the conflicting provisions in the proposed PHP6.352-trillion 2025 national budget in the bicameral conference.

"We fully support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize funding for key projects, which were identified (as) critical to our country’s social and economic transformation," Ejercito said in a statement.

"Rest assured that we are committed to continue working with the Marcos administration to see these priority projects through."

He said the administration’s priority projects also align with his advocacy, citing infrastructure projects in railways and airports, as well as health care.

"These have been long-standing dreams for the nation, as they promise to create jobs and opportunities, and improve the quality of life for our people," Ejercito said.

He noted that foreign-assisted priority projects, particularly railway projects, were provided funding in the Senate budget version, and government participation was included in the programmed funds to ensure its continuous implementation.

Ejercito said he also welcomes Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan’s assurance that these projects would be funded without new taxes, which demonstrates the Marcos administration’s fiscal prudence while addressing the urgent needs of Filipinos.

Balisacan earlier said that the President ordered his economic managers to ensure funding for priority projects that could achieve the medium-term goals of the administration next year.