Action for Economic Reforms President and Social Watch Philippines Co-Convenor Jessica Reyes-Cantos called for removing political discretion from social assistance distribution under the 2027 National Budget.
Reyes-Cantos clarified that while social safety nets are necessary, assistance programs should be administered directly by statutory agencies like PhilHealth and CHED rather than routed through congressional recommendations.
She emphasized that direct agency delivery prevents the use of public tax revenues for political patronage.
