Senator Sherwin Gatchalian thanked on Saturday, Dec. 17 President "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for signing the country’s P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023.
Gatchalian said the swift passage of next year’s national budget ‘’is a manifestation that we are well on our way to sustain economic recovery amid the ill effects of the Covid-19 pandemic as we also aim to cushion the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict".
He pointed out that the 2023 budget includes social safety nets, such as subsidies for fuel and for the poorest of the poor, ‘’as we recognize the need to support the marginalized sectors of our society".
As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Gatchalian said he is happy to note the significant increase in the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd).
He said this will allow the upper chamber to continue funding various programs that provide financial assistance to learners, such as the Free Higher Education Law.
DepEd’s budget also includes the repair and rehabilitation of damaged school facilities.
‘’I also laud the budget augmentation for the energy sector to regulate the market and fulfill the demand while reducing energy costs,’’ Gatchalian said.