House approves P2-trillion national budget on 2nd reading

MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives on Thursday night approved on second reading the proposed P2.006 trillion national budget for 2013 after nine days of marathon hearings.

Questions on the presence of a quorum almost derailed the approval of the budget on what was expected to be the last day of its deliberations. Session was halted by a motion made by Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay questioning the quorum after grilling newly confirmed Transportation and Communications chief Joseph Emilio Abaya on why her pork barrel was being withheld.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad earlier said that the 2013 budget is being eyed to build on what the Aquino administration has so far accomplished.

The 2013 budget, he added, is aimed at boosting the country’s economic growth. The country is aiming for a six to seven percent growth in 2013.

Disbursements are targeted at P2.021 trillion while deficit is set at P241 billion, or 2 percent of the projected GDP.

Just like last year, the biggest chunk of the funding goes to the Department of Education for which P292.7 billion is allotted, which is 22.6 percent more than this year’s P238.8 billion.

Following the DepEd are the Department of Public Works and Highways, which will receive P152.9 billion, 21 percent more than this year’s P126.4 billion; the Department of National Defense, with P121.6 billion; Department of Interior and Local Government, P121.1 billion; Department of Agriculture, P74.1 billion; Department of Health (DoH), P56.8 billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development, P56.2 billion; Department of Transportation and Communications, P37.1 billion; Department of Finance, P33.2 billion; and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, P23.7 billion.

The Department of Budget and Management said the DoH gets the highest increase next year, as its proposed budget is up by 24 percent from P45.8 billion.

The House of Representatives will go on recess after this week and will resume session on October 8.