Senate, House approve reconciled version of 2022 budget

Senators and House lawmakers sign the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2022 national budget on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. (Photo from Senator Sonny Angara’s office)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the reconciled version of the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022.

This, after senators and House lawmakers signed the bicameral conference committee report on the 2022 budget.

According to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Senator Sonny Angara, the reconciled version of the budget not only focuses on the health aspect of the country’s recovery from the pandemic but also on the economic side.

“Nakatutok na rin tayo sa economic recovery natin so hindi lang yung purely health, kasi di natin masabi kung gaano kabilis or gaano kabagal yung recovery natin sa darating na taon so dapat handa tayo either way,” he told reporters.

“Prepare for the worst, prepare for the best case scenario na opened up na tayo,” he added.

Angara said the bicam agreed to increase the budget of the Department of Health (DOH) by around P20 billion to P30 billion from the budget initially proposed by the executive department.

“I think dinagdagan namin yung sa boosters tapos sa testing, meron din doon,” Angara said.

The bicam also agreed to allocate funding for the Department of Labor and Employment for the COVID-19 testing of job seekers.

The bicam report is expected to be ratified by the Senate and the House during their respective plenary sessions later in the day.

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