Yet another prayer rally has been arranged for this month, this time in protest of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), or this year’s approved national budget at the EDSA Shrine.
According to retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, the Clergy for Good Governance has initiated a demonstration against the pork barrel and the lack of funds allocated for PhilHealth and the Department of Education (DepEd). PhilHealth has received zero appropriations, while DepEd has been given a budget insufficient for the subsidy of its computerization program.
The protest seeks a supplemental budget, which may be filed anytime during the year, Carpio said.
Other organizations have joined the rally, which is now called “Citizens and Clergy for Good Governance.”
Proponents of the initiative are also preparing a complaint to be filed before the Supreme Court should the supplemental budget be withheld.
Law dictates that 60 percent of Sin Taxes are accorded to PhilHealth, but presently, the portion has not been remitted, said Carpio. Moreover, Carpio argues that the GAA cannot override any pre-existing law.
The “Citizens and Clergy for Good Governance” rally will take place at 3-7 PM on January 31, at the EDSA Shrine. It follows the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) National Rally for Peace on January 13 at the Quirino Grandstand, attended by some 1.5 million believers.
