Former Senator Bam Aquino during the launch of the grassroots campaign "Mga Kaibigan," on October 16, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Supporters flock to the launching of the  grassroots campaign "Mga Kaibigan", led by senatorial and congressional aspirants, former senators Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Atty. Leila Dr Lima, and Atty. Chel Diokno, in Quezon City on October 16, 2024. The campaign focuses on transparent governance, economic recovery, social justice, and youth empowerment, as the aspirants lead up to the 2025 midterm elections. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Mga Kaibigan Campaign Launch

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173625099710120241016-kaibigan-launch-MD-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Senator Bam Aquino during the launch of the grassroots campaign &quot;Mga Kaibigan,&quot; on October 16, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Senator Bam Aquino during the launch of the grassroots campaign &quot;Mga Kaibigan,&quot; on October 16, 2024. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Senatorial aspirant Benigno &quot;Bam&quot; Aquino IV said the first thing he will do if he returns to the upper chamber of Congress is to push for a higher budget for education, health and other priority departments. </p><p>Aquino, the principal sponsor of Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, questioned why the budget for free education and education in general went down in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.</p><p>&quot;Isipin mo lumaki budget natin ng 10% pero bumaba yung pera para sa  free higher education. Paano nangyari yun? Lumaki yung budget pero yung isang mahalagang bagay, paliit siya?&quot; he said on the first episode of Harapan 2025. </p><p>&quot;Siguro naman pag dating sa edukasyon, pag dating sa tulong sa mahihirap, dapat tumataas yung budget na yan. Yan yung pangunahing hinahanap ng mga Pilipino. Yan din yung pangunahing pinapangako ng mga pulitiko. Edukasyon, kalusugan, tulong, dapat yun yung mga pataas,&quot; Aquino added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/1/deped-says-to-work-with-dbm-dof-to-find-more-funding-for-programs-0032">READ: DepEd says to work with DBM, DOF to find more funding for programs</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/5/teachers-group-wants-to-file-petition-questioning-legality-of-allotted-education-budget-2231">READ: Teachers&#x27; group wants to file petition questioning legality of allotted education budget</a></div><p>The Department of Education&#x27;s budget stood at P1.055 trillion, following cuts in the Department of Public Works and Highways budget.</p><p>DepEd and groups earlier decried the P12 billion slashed from its budget, P10 billion of which are for its computerization program.</p><p>&quot;Ang hirap talagang tanggapin na merong cuts sa edukasyon, sa kalusugan, sa DSWD. Kailangan maibalik yun…. We have to make sure next year&#x27;s budget balik yung mga pondong yan at mas papalakihan pa na kailangan ng taong bayan,&quot; Aquino said.</p><p>&quot;Ang pangunahing tatrabahuin natin, mas lumalawak yung programa, sisiguraduhin natin na mas maraming kabataan ang nakikinabang dito. Nagkakaroon ng quality education yung mga kabataan natin upang magkaroon sila ng siguradong trabaho,&quot; he added.</p><p>The former Senator believes there is &quot;pork barrel&quot; in this year&#x27;s budget.</p><p>&quot;Yung pork barrel makikita yan sa infrastructure… Yung bawat piso na hindi napupunta sa taongbayan, pera po yan sa edukasyon, pera sa kalusugan, so mahalaga sa ganitong budget yung pera mapunta sa taongbayan,&quot; he said.</p><p>Aquino however made it clear that he is not in favor of removing the University of the Philippines as part of the Free Tuition Act amid calls due to the alleged increasing number of wealthy students.</p><p>&quot;Hindi lahat. Merong mayaman sa UP, in the same way may iilang mayaman sa state universities natin. Pero aside from UP, sa state universities natin…. Ang liit ang kokonti ng mayayaman natin,&quot; he said.</p><p>Aquino stated an &quot;opt out&quot; provision in the law, which allows wealthy students to pay their tuition in full, due to their financial status. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/14/bam-aquino-leaves-liberal-party-to-lead-katipunan-ng-nagkakaisang-pilipino-2233">READ: Bam Aquino leaves Liberal Party to lead ‘Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino’</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/7/harapan-2025-eliminating-corruption-in-imports-can-help-lower-prices-aquino-says-1920">READ: Eliminating corruption in imports can help lower prices, Bam Aquino says</a></div><div><strong>NO MORE YELLOW FOR AQUINO?</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EOexPy9h0TA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Aquino appeared on the show wearing pink, instead of the usual yellow color associated with his family. </p><p>Yellow has been the color used by his aunt and former President Corazon Aquino, as well as his cousin former President Benigno Aquino III. </p><p>&quot;Yung yellow naman nasa puso natin yan. Pero yung pink nung filing nakita namin walang nagpipink. Eh nung 2022 malinaw naman na maraming lumabas para kay Leni at Kiko noong panahong yun. At gusto natin sabihin na yung pinaglaban nila na gobyernong tapat para iangat ng buhay ang lahat ay nandun parin yun. Patuloy parin ang laban na yun,&quot; he explained</p><p>The former Senator denied that he is turning back on his family&#x27;s legacy.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/27/refrain-from-using-ninoy-aquino-in-political-clash-continue-his-fight-instead-bam-aquino-1527">READ: Refrain from using Ninoy Aquino in political clash, continue his fight instead -- Bam Aquino</a></div><p>&quot;Of course hindi. Sa mukha palang hindi mawawala ang pagiging Aquino. I&#x27;m very proud of my relatives who have given so much to the country. Siyempre ngayon you have to stand on your own feet also. Kailangan kang sumabak sa iyong track record… Lagi naman andiyan sila bilang inspirasyon ko&quot; Aquino said.</p><p>He stressed that he is running as an independent candidate, amid tensions between the administration and others.</p><div><strong>MARCOS VS. AQUINO </strong></div><p>Aquino was also asked about the decades-long rift between his family and the Marcoses, something which he believes is now in the past.</p><p>&quot;Matagal nang hindi ito Marcos versus Aquino. Ang concerns ng taong-bayan kung sino tutulong sa kanila. Yung taas ng presyo ng bilihin, problema sa edukasyon, yung problema natin sa pagkita ng kaban ng bayan sinisigurado natin mapunta sa tama. Hindi na siya away ng politiko,&quot; he explained.</p><p>Aquino described his meeting with President Marcos Jr. in Sorsogon as &#x27;cordial.&#x27;</p><p>&quot;Naisip ko maganda naman siguro naman magandang makipag kamay. He is already there. After all, you have to respect the position of the President,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/15/can-liberal-party-linked-bets-win-in-2025-polls-political-analyst-weighs-in-1144">READ: Can Liberal Party-linked bets win in 2025 polls? Political analyst weighs in</a></div>

<p>Senatorial aspirant Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV said the first thing he will do if he returns to the upper chamber of Congress is to push for a higher budget for education, health and other priority departments. </p>

Senatorial aspirant Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV said the first thing he will do if he returns to the upper chamber of Congress is to push for a higher budget for education, health and other priority departments.

Harapan 2025: Aquino to push for increase in education budget if elected | ABS-CBN

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Harapan 2025: Aquino to push for increase in education budget if elected

Harapan 2025: Aquino to push for increase in education budget if elected

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 07, 2025 08:03 PM PHT

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