‘Spend more for education, health, not ayuda’

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August 24, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — As Congress continues its deliberations on the P7.2-trillion budget for 2027, Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David of Kalookan said that the people’s money would be better spent for program-based projects such as providing better education, health care and livelihood, instead of using it for ayuda or patronage-based projects.

In his mass homily titled “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself” on Aug. 21, David gave his advice against the “politics of patronage.”

He said the poor should not be treated merely as objects of charity or beneficiaries of other people’s generosity.