Background on Bertha Gómez Castro and Her Role
Bertha Gómez Castro, the Subsecretary of Expenditures at Mexico’s Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (SHCP), presented the 2026 Federal Budget Proposal to legislators. Her role is crucial in ensuring the financial stability and allocation of resources for public services, investments, and protection of vulnerable populations.
Key Points from the 2026 Budget Proposal
Gómez Castro emphasized that the proposed budget of over 10.1 trillion pesos for the upcoming year does not compromise macroeconomic stability or the sustainable debt trajectory. The budget aims to guarantee essential public rights and services while securing resources for public investment.
- Congruence with Ley de Ingresos de la Federación (LIF) 2026: The budget proposal maintains a balance between current spending and investment, with a structured programmatic approach to track every peso from origin to destination.
- Allocation for Education and Health: The budget allocates 1.12 trillion pesos to education and 965.662 billion pesos for health services, addressing the population’s needs.
Opposition Criticism and Concerns
Despite SHCP’s assurances, opposition legislators raised concerns about limited resources in essential areas. Eduardo Gaona from Movimiento Ciudadano pointed out a lack of coordination and argued that the cost of essential services, such as museums, water, and archaeological zones, is being increased through the Ley Federal de Derechos.
- Gasto Federalizado: Gaona criticized the stagnant allocation for federalized spending, including only 2,200 million pesos for potable water and a nearly 19% decrease in security funding.
Héctor Saúl Téllez, a panista diputado, criticized the health budget and the increase in the IEPS tax on sugary beverages. He stated that despite government discourse about a dedicated fund for these resources, the 2026 PPEF does not reflect such allocations.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main purpose of the 2026 Budget Proposal? The proposal aims to guarantee public rights, essential services, and public investment while maintaining macroeconomic stability.
- What concerns have been raised by the opposition? Opposition legislators, such as Eduardo Gaona and Héctor Saúl Téllez, have criticized the limited resources allocated to essential areas like water, security, and healthcare.
- What solutions have been proposed by opposition members? Eduardo Gaona suggested addressing the increasing costs of essential services, while Héctor Saúl Téllez proposed creating a dedicated healthcare fund using additional taxes from sugary beverages.
