Duterte to expedite signing of P5-T national budget for 2022—Bong Go
President Duterte will expedite the review and signing of the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022 to ensure that the government has a workign bduget for the rehabilitation and fast recovery of areas hard hit by Typhoon Odette, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said.
Go said Duterte has made the commitment to sign the proposed 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to ensure that the government already has a working budget by January 1 or January 3, 2022.
According to Go, this would also help ensure that the government would have a budget to work on, not only for the rehabilitation and relief efforts for typhoon victims but also to bolster the state’s COVID-19 response.
“That’s the over-all goal of the government, that each Filipino is able to return to their normal lives. To reopen the economy and that more people will be able to go back to work, especially those who lost their jobs,” Go said in a radio interview on Saturday.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said the President is scheduled to sign the budget measure on December 28.
At the same time, Go assured that the President has also put to task the Departments of Budget and Management (DBM) and Finance (DOF) to look for funds to be given as financial assistance.
He also said even government agencies that have quick response fund (QRF) like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), have been tasked to immediately provide livelihood for beneficiaries in the typhoon-stricken areas.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) was also directed to distribute seeds and boats to the farmers and fisherfolk, respectively, who were affected by the disaster, while the National Housing Authority (NHA) will provide P100-million worth of housing assistance to each province affected.
Go reassured that the President and the rest of the government are working nonstop to address the needs of the victims.
Earlier, Duterte issued Proclamation No. 1267 putting Regions IV-B, VI, VII, VIII, X, and XIII under a state of calamity to fast track all rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts in these areas.