The budget has incurred rolling deficits since the 2017-2018 financial year, largely as a result of declining mineral revenues and stubbornly high spending. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation, forcing government to dig deep into its reserves housed in the Government Investment Account. Presenting the inaugural mid-term budget review statement recently, Gaolathe stated that while spending cuts had already been initiated in the current financial year, more was needed in light of the weak revenue outlook.
According to a report elsewhere in this publication, various district councils announced that a one-bedroom home now costs over P130,000 more, a near-unthinkable 32% increase. This isn’t just a minor adjustment, but a devastating blow to the dream of affordable home ownership for ordinary citizens.What is most alarming is not just the scale of the increase, but the profound confusion it has exposed. Minister Ramogapi has publicly…
