GAME-CHANGER NATIONAL BUDGET

THE Senate Minority bloc, led by Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, is gearing up to push “game-changer” amendments focused on rural development and stronger support for local government units as the 2026 national budget enters the bicameral conference committee. Cayetano stressed that the final budget must correct long-standing imbalances that have favored Metro Manila while leaving many provinces waiting for meaningful infrastructure and development projects.

During the Senate’s plenary deliberations on December 4, Cayetano said that while the proposed budget is “much better than last year,” it still falls short of delivering transformative change. He and Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva voted against the General Appropriations Bill, citing inadequate funding for rural growth, mass transport systems, and climate-resilient programs.

A key priority for the minority is the revival of long-delayed railway projects outside the capital. Cayetano renewed calls to allocate funds for the Mindanao Railway, saying the region has waited “far too long” for development that could immediately spur private investments around future stations. He also urged budget negotiators to consider reviving the Subic–Clark Railway to finally tap the long-envisioned synergy between Clark Airport and Subic Port.

“You have a beautiful international airport in Clark and a deep port in Subic. The synergy imagined more than a century ago can be fully realized if we build that railway,” he said. Cayetano added that Central Luzon—from Pampanga and Bulacan to Clark and Nueva Ecija—holds enormous potential held back only by the lack of infrastructure.

He maintained that these regional railways are “just as important” as major projects in the capital, such as the Metro Manila Subway. (PR)