Ejercito: 2027 budget must win back trust

Expect major changes to the proposed 2027 budget as the Senate finance committee aims to reorient spending to prioritize legacy and big-ticket infrastructure like railways, bridges, and airports, Senator JV Ejercito said.

Ejercito, chairperson of the Senate finance committee reviewing the House-approved General Appropriations Bill, told Daily Tribune the panel’s challenge is to implement reforms that would help restore public trust in the budget process, the Senate, and the government.

He said he also plans to increase funding for zero-balance billing so more Department of Health hospitals can participate and more Filipinos can benefit. The program, he said, is meant to help the most vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens and indigents who cannot pay for hospital care.

The veteran senator said he wants to increase the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) subsidy to cut patients’ out-of-pocket expenses, particularly for paying members such as employees and other direct contributors who typically stay in private rooms.

He cited a P100,000 hospital bill as an example, where PhilHealth could cover P30,000 to P40,000 if case rates are raised.

He said he hopes to see these changes through over the next two years, alongside higher subsidies for field health services and an expanded health facilities enhancement program to upgrade provincial and locally run hospitals.

Ejercito said his appointment as finance committee head may be a “blessing in disguise” because it lets him prioritize his advocacies, including infrastructure and the full implementation of the universal health care law.

He vowed not to allow projects such as the railway system to be left out of the budget or go unplanned.