Neda’s proposed P12.21-B budget for 2024 hurdles Senate panel

BALISACAN DEFENDS NEDA, JLEC 2024 BUDGET: Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Arsenio Balisacan answers queries from senators as he leads the presentation of the P12.21-billion budget of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and its attached agencies and the P3.46 million budget of the Joint Legislative-Executive Councils Monday, September 25, 2023. (Voltaire F. Domingo / Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on finance on Monday gave its approval to the National Economic and Development Authority’s (Neda) proposed P12.21 billion budget for 2024.

“Thank you and we will favorably recommend the budget of Neda and its attached agencies without prejudice to any augmentation that may happen,” said Senator Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Senate committee on finance.

Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said of the P12.21 billion budget, at least P8.07 billion will be used for maintenance and other operating expenses. P3.5 billion, on the other hand, will be used for personal services, while the remaining funds will be allocated for capital outlay.

According to Balisacan, the lion’s share of the budget, amounting to P8.940 billion, will be given to the Philippine Statistics Authority — one of its attached agencies. This was followed by Neda’s Office of the Secretary (OSEC), which will be allocated P2.06 billion.

READ: Senators think it’s more efficient for gov’t to issue ePhilIDs

“The remaining P1.21 billion or 9.04 percent is shared by the rest of our six attached agencies,” said Balisacan.

In the same hearing, Balisacan also disclosed that the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s  (Ledac) proposed budget for 2024 amounts to P3.46 million.

READ: DBM submits 2024 national budget to Marcos

“Its budget is proposed to be transferred to the Neda OSEC, in view of the transfer of the Ledac secretariat personnel to Neda as approved by the [Department of Bureau and Management],” said Balisacan.

JPV/abc