LEGISLATORS get their creative juices flowing best when engaged in carving up the annual budget of the national government. Unfortunately, the result of their creativity doesn't always redound to the benefit of the vast majority of the people.
In the Congress-ratified 2025 budget of P6.35 trillion, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign into law before Christmas, the big gainers are offices that lawmakers could dip their hands into for their preferred projects and activities. On the other hand, among the big losers are agencies directly involved in the delivery of basic services such as education and health.
