SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Thursday called on the bicameral conference committee (bicam) to prioritize Filipinos in the 2025 national budget and produce a spending plan that addresses their daily needs.
“We’re all here because we’ve been trusted with a responsibility. Let’s live up to that trust. Let’s have honest, productive discussions, and let’s find the common ground that puts the people first,” Romualdez said at the bicam’s first meeting.
“We owe it to every Filipino who wakes up every day trying to make ends meet, hoping that their government has their back. Let’s give them a budget that says, ‘Yes, we hear you. Yes, we care. And yes, we’re doing something about it,’” he added.
Romualdez said the bicam should not complicate its budget deliberations to reconcile the versions of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“Let’s keep things practical and straightforward. We don’t need to overcomplicate this. Let’s focus on what will make the biggest difference for the Filipino people. The programs that matter, the services they rely on, and the investments that will move this country forward — those should be non-negotiable,” he said.
