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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bill tweaking sources for unprogrammed funds in 2023 budget hurdles House

Bill tweaking sources for unprogrammed funds in 2023 budget hurdles House

Published Nov 29, 2023 01:36 pm

At A Glance

  • The measure seeking to provide an additional criterion for the availment of unprogrammed appropriations under the P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 has been overwhelmigly approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. 

House plenary.jpgThe House plenary (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The measure seeking to provide an additional criterion for the availment of unprogrammed appropriations under the P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 has been overwhelmigly approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives.

Garnering 229 affirmative votes during plenary session Wednesday, Nov. 29, was House Bill (HB) No.9513, which amends for the purpose the existing 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget.

Only four voted against the measure, while there were no abstentions. The measure was principally authored by Albay 2nd Joey Salceda, the Committee on Ways and Means chairman.

It was only last Nov. 21 that the bill was approved on second reading.

If enacted, the measure would allow the government to tap excess revenues of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) in order to bankroll items under the unprogrammed funds in the GAA.

Among the various projects and programs listed under the unprogrammed funds for this year are the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients or MAIP (P13 billion), specialty hospitals (P2 billion), benefits for healthcare frontliners (P5 billion), Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) (P10 billion), and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (P2 billion).

Also under the unprogrammed funds of the 2023 GAA are the solar-powered irrigation (P10 billion), .Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (P5 billion), pension para sa indigent senior citizens [P5 billion), Libreng Sakay programs or free rides (P2 billion), construction of bike lanes (P1 billion), and the fuel subsidy program (P2.5 billion).

The current budget is P5.268 trillion, the largest in the country’s history. However, it will be eclipsed by the proposed P5.768-trillion spending plan for 2024 once it is enacted.

Under the current laws, unprogrammed appropriations in the national budget may only be funded by the following:

• Excess revenue collection in any non-tax revenue source from its corresponding revenue collection target as reflected in the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing;

• New revenue collection or those arising from new tax or non-tax sources which are not part of, nor included in, the original revenue sources reflected in the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing; and

• Approved loans for foreign-assisted projects.

Related Tags

National Budget general appropriations act Third and Final Reading joey salceda
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