DBM transmitted 2021 national budget plan to Senate, says Sotto

Senate President Vicente Sotto III (left) and DBM Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado (right). Photo courtesy of Senate President Sotto.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has transmitted to the Senate the executive department’s proposed P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed this in a message to reporters on Wednesday.

“[The DBM] submitted the NEP (National Expenditure Program) yesterday,” he said.

The DBM also submitted the budget documents to the House of Representatives.

The P4.506-trillion proposed national budget for next year is 9.9 percent higher than the 2020 budget.

Earlier Senator Sonny Angara, chair of the Senate finance committee, said he sees a shift in budget priorities for 2021 given the impact inflicted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Angara had underscored the need to beef up the capacity of hospitals and improve the country’s internet infrastructure with employees resorting to work-from-home arrangements due to restrictions triggered by the current health crisis.

JE