President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has unveiled his administration’s priority programs and projects for his first full-year budget anchored with the goal of economic reconstruction.

In a directive to incoming Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, Marcos wanted that his 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which will present the proposed budget allocation by agency, will be focused on his priority areas.

Pangandaman said the next administration’s focus areas include agricultural and food security, climate change adaptation, economic recovery, as well as improved healthcare and education.

Moreover, Pangandaman said the incoming chief executive wants to prioritize spending on enhanced infrastructure projects including digital infrastructure, and utilization of renewable energy sources.

The Marcos government also wants to strengthen tourism and jobs creation, as well as sustainable development, among others, she said.

“I aspire to draft and implement a budget that will promote a broad-based and inclusive economic recovery and growth,” Pangandaman said. “President-elect Marcos’ priority programs are in line with that.”

Last May 24, the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee approved a proposed P5.086 trillion national budget for next year, equivalent to 21.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

The 2023 budget, however, is only 1.2 percent higher than this year’s P5.024 billion general appropriations act.

Budget Officer-in-Charge Secretary Tina Rose Marie Canda explained that the marginal increase was the “prudent fiscal” level, noting that “it may be tight, but we have to live within that level if we want to be respected by the international financial community.”

The proposed budget contained in the NEP is accompanied by the President's Budget Message, which encapsulates the budget’s policy thrust and priorities.

Under the constitution, the proposed budget should be submitted to Congress within 30-days from the opening of the regular session.

The House of Representatives will deliberate on the President's budget, while the Senate, in turn, conducts a parallel review.

The two houses of Congress will then meet through the bicameral committee to reconcile the different versions of the budget bill before transmitting to the President for approval.

Meanwhile, Pangandaman said that the entire incoming economic team is set to meet soon and that she will work with them to fulfill President-elect Marcos’ campaign promises.