P588-B unprogrammed funds in 2023 budget for unforeseen, emergency events — DBM
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday defended the P588-billion in “unprogrammed” funds in the proposed 2023 national budget, saying the funding is to be used for unforeseen events.
House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto earlier pointed out the P588-billion funding under “unprogrammed” appropriations in the proposed 2023 national budget.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that such funds, which she said are “actually itemized,” are usually tapped by the government in cases of emergencies where infrastructure projects and social programs are needed.
“Ang mga proyekto na nilalagay dito, ito ‘yung mga proyekto na hindi pa natin alam na mangyayari katulad noong nangyari ang pandemic o nagkaroon ng fuel hike,” she said in a Palace briefing.
(The projects we put here include those we include in unforeseen events such as the pandemic or fuel hike.)
“Dito natin kinuha ‘yung pondo para sa pagbibigay ng free bus carousel natin, additional funding for our ayuda and even ‘yung pagpatayo natin ng mga clinics or services sa health sector noong panahon ng pandemic,” she added.
(This is where we got the funding for the free bus rides, additional funding for aid, and the establishment of clinics and services in the health sector during the pandemic.
The DBM chief also said these funds could also be used when the government gets extra revenue from the Department of Finance, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Bureau of Customs.
“Puwede siya kung mayroong hindi tayong inaasahang pangyayari parang sa pandemic or ‘yung mga proyekto dito na inidentify natin, pag nagkaroon tayo ng extra revenue from DOF, BIR, or BOC, puwede mag-trigger ng release ng mga proyekto dito,” she said.
(This can be used in cases of unforeseen circumstances like the pandemic or the projects we identified when we generate extra revenue from DOF, BIR, or Bureau of Customs.)
Pangandaman said the funds are “actually itemized,” and the allocations are as follows.
– P5 billion – AFP modernization program
-P20.7billion – budgetary support to government-owned and/or controlled corporations
-P380 billion – support to foreign-assisted projects (P2.2 billion for DSWD and P378.2 billion for the Department of Transportation)
-P1 billion – risk management program
-P2 billion – payment for Land Transportation Office’s IT “arrears”
-P210.5 million – refund of the service development fee for the right to develop the Nampeidai Property in Tokyo, Japan
-P10 billion – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) equity infusion or the payment of increase in capitalization of the BSP pursuant to Section 2 of R.A. No. 7653, as amended by R.A. No. 11211
-P19 billion – public health emergency benefits and allowances for health care and non-health care workers
-P14 million – prior years’ local government unit shares
-P149.7 billion – support for infrastructure projects and social programs (inclusive of P22 billion for procurement of vaccines)
In a separate statement, Pangandaman said these funds will give the government the necessary fiscal space in cases of emergencies.
“In our country where we have calamities we do not expect or activities we do not even anticipate but necessitates us to provide services to our people, the [unprogrammed appropriation[ is an available resource cover that will trigger additional amounts for the national government,” she said.
The government has a proposed P5.268 trillion national budget for 2023, more than P244 billion compared to the budget for 2022.
