Mayors’ group urges for thorough crafting of 2024 nat’l budget

MANILA, Philippines — With the challenges the country currently faces, the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) on Wednesday called for lawmakers at the House of Representatives and Senate to be thorough and cautious in allocating the 2024 national budget.

According to the mayors’ movement, they have been closely monitoring the deliberation of the said budget.

“Mabigat ang ating mga problema ngayon: tumataas na presyo ng mga bilihin, matamlay na agrikultura, lumalalang krisis sa transportasyon, at tumitinding isyung pang-seguridad,” M4GG said in a statement.

(Our problems today are difficult: rising prices of goods, a weak agricultural sector, worsening transportation crisis, and intensifying security issues.)

“Mula sa mga nabanggit, kami ay nananawagan sa mga mambabatas sa Kongreso at Senado na maging mas mabusisi at maingat sa pagbalangkas ng national budget,” the movement added.

(From the problems mentioned, we call on lawmakers in the Congress and Senate to be thorough and cautious in crafting the national budget.)

M4GG said unnecessary expenditures must instead be reallocated to initiatives that will help small towns, members of the agricultural sector, consumers, and other programs concerning peace and order in the country.

The movement also called for the leaders of the government to be responsible and fair in spending the budget, which is the nation’s money.

“Ngayong higit 14 trilyong piso na ang utang ng ating bansa, mas kinakailangang bigyang pansin ito at gamitin ang natitirang pera ng bayan nang maiwasan nang umasa sa pangungutang,” it said.

(Now that the country’s debt has already exceeded P14 trillion, more attention is needed in this matter; use the remaining national fund to avoid relying on borrowing money.)

“Ang pera ng taumbayan, dapat gastusin lamang para sa taumbayan,” M4GG concluded.

(The people’s money must only be spent for the people.)

M4GG said the national budget must be clean, without traces of corruption, and must actually respond to the needs of the Filipino people.

The Mayors for Good Governance is a movement of 157 local chief executives committed to fighting corruption, transparency, innovation, and accountable governance.

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