Every day, hundreds of Filipinos arrive at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) before dawn, enduring long hours of waiting in hopes of securing a medical consultation. Despite serving as one of the nation’s largest medical and training institutions, the hospital struggles with severe overcrowding and limited resources. Rather than addressing these gaps, the Marcos administration’s newly submitted budget proposal includes a P805 million reduction for PGH, further straining a facility already stretched to its breaking point. This is part of a broader, concerning trend, as the government plans to slash overall health spending by P95.7 billion, affecting all 87 hospitals under the Department of Health.

Critics and economists, including Sonny Africa of the Ibon Foundation, have labeled the proposal as an "anti-poor" budget that abandons essential social services in favor of debt servicing and military expansion. Significant cuts are also slated for education, public housing, agriculture, and social welfare, signaling a clear shift in government priorities. While the administration seeks to hike spending on interest payments and defense by billions, advocates argue that these fiscal choices will leave the most vulnerable Filipinos behind, effectively depriving millions of access to basic rights and a stable economic future.