Drilon assures passage of P2.268-T proposed budget for 2014

Newly elected Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— Senate President Franklin Drilon on Tuesday assured the passage of the proposed P2.268-trillion national budget for 2014 before the year ends.

“It is vital to the economic growth to have the budget by January 1 so that infrastructure projects can jump-start during the summer season to take advantage of the good weather,” Drilon, who was chairman of the  Senate committee on finance in the last Congress, said in a statement.

The Senate leader is confident that the proposed budget, which was 13.1 percent or P262.1 billion higher than this year, would pave the way for an “inclusive and all-encompassing growth,” which President Aquino promised in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.

“I am particularly pleased with the sustained priority being given to health and education systems. I laud the highest budget increase of 45.5-percent budget given to the Department of Health making its 2014 budget P87.1 billion to provide a wider health coverage,” he said.

Drilon said the excise tax collections from the Sin Tax Reform Law will augment the budget for health insurance of indigent families next year.

Based on the submitted budget, P35.3 billion is being proposed for the Premium Health Subsidy of 14.7 million indigent families.

Drilon also hopes that the highest budget yearly being allocated for the Department of Education amounting P336.9 billion for next year will finally enable the agency to put closure to the problems on classrooms and school facilities, textbooks and teachers.

“I am confident that our fellow senators, whether from majority or minority blocs, will scrutinize the proposed outlay objectively, bearing in mind the greatest needs of our people, especially the poorest of the poor,” he said.

“As legislators, it is our duty to ensure that indeed no Filipino, regardless of economic status, will be left behind and that every Filipino will experience a remarkable improvement in his or her life,” he added.

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