I’m pretty sure you guys are also fed up with the news and social media posts about the 2025 National Budget… oh, come on! The billions is the talk of the town nowadays and it is becoming exhausting not only because it does not end but the issues surrounding it multiply every single day.

Former government officials and members of civil society have been pointing out irregularities in the budget cuts and allocations while some are actually defending it, saying that everything has been balanced in the budget. Exposés here, claims there, I hope we are actually addressing the root causes of the problems of every Filipino such as disaster preparedness, education, agriculture, and health in case another pandemic crops up. Who knows what will happen next. One thing is for sure though, Juans and Juanas will always be the end-users of it all.

There is an African saying that goes: “When the elephants fight, the grass suffers.” That means that every time there is a fight between big and powerful people, it is the small, innocent and ordinary people who are usually affected and harmed. For us ordinary citizens, we can’t help but be a part of the questioning community because we and the next generations are a part of this cycle whether we like it or not.

Speaking of the money, money, money...

Now here’s some good news. The Department of Finance (DoF) announced that the government had collected P4.41 trillion in 2024, surpassing the P4.3-trillion revenue target of the Marcos administration based on preliminary figures as of 16 January.

The DoF also recognized the performances of state-owned corporations like the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC). Indeed, at least that is something good to know despite the issues surrounding the national budget.

Well, in terms of the maritime industry, here’s more good news. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) once again has achieved a milestone in the history of the state agency by posting a total revenue of P27.30 billion for 2024, surpassing its target of P26.09 billion, making this its highest annual revenue since the agency’s establishment in 1974.

According to the PPA’s preliminary December 2024 financial performance report, the P27.30-billion revenue marks a 7.29-percent increase from the P25.45 billion recorded in 2023.

The efficient capture of revenue streams is a result of efficiency in revenue collection and management of potential income sources due to the development of new business opportunities along with the external trade in goods last year which amounted to US$16.15 billion, from the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago said this was the highest so far since PPA was created and could be attributed to the PPA management’s strategic policy changes and the successful implementation of the Port Terminal Management Regulatory Framework (PTMRF).

Notably, in 2024, PPA awarded a 25-year concession contract to International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) for the development and operation of the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex (ICPC) in Western Visayas. Additionally, the Pasig Port was transferred to Mega Lifters Cargo Handling Corp. under a 15-year port terminal management agreement. In total, PPA has privatized the operations of 28 terminals nationwide since 30 June 2021.

For 2025, the PPA remains committed to providing modern, sustainable, and resilient port infrastructure and remains optimistic about further surpassing prior years’ revenues which will significantly benefit the Filipino people.

Do you remember the ABBA song?

Money, money, money

Always sunny

In the rich man’s world

Well, I hope it will soon be sunny for the rest of us Filipinos. The government must enhance transparency and accountability in its fiscal management while connecting national priorities to grassroots realities.

Don’t rock the boat and expect it to be steady and still. After all, we are all in the same boat.