As the 2024 national budget deliberations in the Senate started, the Council for Health and Development and Coalition for People’s Right to Health –among the co-convenors of the Coalition for Health Budget Increase (CHBI) — together with various sectors and organizations staged a protest action in front of the Senate of the Philippines on Thursday, Nov. 9, against budget cuts on health, education and other social services.

CHBI is one with the people in calling for the abolition of the confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) and realign the budget to social services where it is truly needed.

The groups met with Sen. Koko Pimentel to explain the people’s criticism of the Offices of the President and Vice President’s CIFs including the OVP’s spending of P125 million confidential funds in a record 11 days. The groups explained how the CIF is prone to abuse and corruption and contributes to social inequalities and injustices such as the lack of access to healthcare, lack of classrooms, low wages of workers, and human rights violations.

At the minimum, CHBI reiterates its call for the restoration of budget cuts on social services. Strategically, CHBI calls for 10% of the GDP as budget for health towards a free, comprehensive, and progressive national health system.