(FILE PHOTO) Screenshot from the House of Representatives Youtube account
MANILA, Philippines — A day before the House of Representatives adjourns its session for its regular break, the lower chamber approved on second reading the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022.
During Thursday’s session, the lower chamber approved via voice voting House Bill No. 10153 or the 2022 General Appropriations Bill which seeks to “fortify the four main fronts of the pandemic battle strategy: health and nutrition, social protection, governance, and development.”
Under the proposed 2022 national funds, the education sector has the highest budget with P773.6 billion. This covers the Department of Education (DepEd), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is allocated P686.1 billion, followed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (P250.4 billion), the Department of Health (P242 billion), the Department of National Defense (P222 billion), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (P191.4 billion), and the Department of Transportation (P110.9 billion).
In terms of pandemic response, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said the Department of Health (DOH) originally proposed a P73.99 billion budget for COVID-19 response in 2022, but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) only approved P19.68 billion.
The proposed 2022 national budget is also expected to be approved on final reading on Thursday after President Rodrigo Duterte certified the measure as urgent.
The certification allows the House to expedite the budget’s passage without waiting for three days between second and third reading approval.
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco earlier said the House is eyeing to pass the measure before Congress takes its scheduled break on October 1.
Once the proposed national budget hurdles the House, it will be transmitted to the Senate for further deliberations and amendments.