House deliberates on proposed P2.3Tr national budget
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Wednesday began its deliberations on the P2.268 trillion budget.
The committee on appropriations, led by its newly-appointed chairperson Davao City Representative Isidro Ungab, is set to meet with officials from the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) 9:30 a.m.
Expected during the first of a series of budget hearings at the Rolando Andaya Hall are Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan Jr., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr.
The proposed national budget for 2014 is 13.1 percent higher than this year’s 2.006 trillion and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has said that he expected the P2.268 trillion funding to be approved in record time.
The Department of Education (DepEd) stands to receive the biggest share, as it has been allotted funding worth P336.9 billion in the proposal handed over by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to Congress.
It is followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for which P213.5 billion was set aside, and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which had a proposed budget of P135.4 billion.
The rest of the proposed national budget are distributed to other departments as follows:
* Department of National Defense P123.1 B;
* Department of Health P87.1 B;
* Department of Agriculture P80.7 B;
* Department of Social Welfare and Development P79 B;
*Department of Transportation and Communications P48.7 B;
*Department of Environment and Natural Resources P23.9 B; and
*Department of Agrarian Reform P20.4 B.
Meanwhile, State Universities and Colleges are allotted P39.3 billion in the 2014 proposed national budget.
Present during the first of a series of budget hearings at the Rolando Andaya Hall were Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan Jr., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr.
Abad briefed the members of the appropriation committee on the proposed national budget for next year which he said was different from previous proposals as it showed the output expected from departments with its proposed allocation.
He said that with the performance informed budget scheme, the administration will be able to hold agencies accountable for their expected output as defined by their allocation.
Placing the biggest allocation of P336.9 billion for the Department of Education (DepEd) Abad said that they expected the funding to cover gaps in the education sector as well as preparations for the K-12 program.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be provided P213.5 billion, the second biggest portion of allotment from the 2014 proposed national budget in order to pursue construction and repairs of roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
He said that they expected the DPWH to assist the tourism department reach its targets for next year with the construction of access roads and bridges to tourist destinations.
The DBM official said that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program was also being expanded in 2014 to cover youth beneficiaries to enable them to finish high school.
Housing and relocation programs for families living in danger zones as well as the implementation of the universal healthcare system and the creation of more health facilities were also part of the outcome planned under the 2014 proposed national budget.
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