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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider LOOK: Foreign diplomats among Palace VIP guests at signing of PBBM's 1st national budget

LOOK: Foreign diplomats among Palace VIP guests at signing of PBBM's 1st national budget

Published Dec 17, 2022 10:57 am

Foreign envoys were among the witnesses at the signing of the P5.268-trillion 2023 national budget by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Friday, Dec. 16.

(Photo from US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson via Twitter)

One of the guests, United States (US) Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, tweeted about the event.

“Honored to be part of the diplomatic contingent invited to witness the signing of the Philippines' 2023 national budget in beautiful Malacañan Palace — all decked out for the holidays,” she wrote.

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was also invited to the ceremony.

“Honored to be invited to witness the signing of PH's 2023 national budget. Congratulations and wish PBBM and everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!,” he said in a Facebook post.

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian (right) takes a selfie with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) in Malacañang. (Photo from Amb. Huang Xilian/Facebook)

The signing of the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was also witnessed by Vice President and Education chief Sara Duterte, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel.

The national spending plan is the first full budget that will be managed by the Marcos administration, which seeks to focus primarily on agriculture. The President heads the Department of Agriculture (DA) in a concurrent capacity.

The 2023 national budget is 4.9 percent higher or P244.4 billion more than this year's budget of P5.023 trillion.

Aside from agriculture, the Marcos administration seeks to prioritize education, infrastructure development, health, and social safety nets.

In his speech during the ceremonial signing, Marcos underscored the importance of the GAA because it serves as a roadmap of the administration’s goals next year.

Related Tags

2023 national budget MaryKay Carlson GAA agriculture Huang Xilian President Marcos
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