BEYOND BUDGET

(Part 2)

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Last week, I discussed the basis and dimensions of the optimized 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which we submitted to Congress for deliberations and approval. As I have said, our national budget will lay the foundation for an economy that is future-proof, equitable, and sustainable for all Filipinos, as envisioned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

This week, allow me to elaborate on the different areas where the people's money will matter, in line with the President's 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda.
Food security is a top government priority. Hence, we set aside the budget for priority areas to ensure sufficiency. Foremost is the increased funding for the Department of Agriculture's (DA's) major programs. The National Rice Program, to be increased to ₱30.87 billion next year, includes ₱9.55 billion for fertilizer support for farmers. Complementing this is the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), with ₱10 billion. Higher allocations will also be provided for high-value agricultural products. Further, the National Soil Health Program will be provided ₱916.02 million.

Meanwhile, the National Livestock Program budget will get ₱3.37 billion in 2024 as the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Program is at its final implementation year.

The government intends to boost aquaculture growth through the National Fisheries Program (₱6.9B) and Boosting Aquaculture Production Program (₱211M), to increase production, provide livelihood opportunities, and address seedstock supply bottlenecks. Additionally, the administration will provide agricultural support services like irrigation (₱31.18B), fish port construction, rehabilitation, and improvement (₱4.94B), crop insurance (₱4.5B), credit access (₱2.75B), and NFA Buffer Stocking Program (₱9B) to ensure food security during emergencies and crises.

The administration will reduce transportation and logistics costs by building more transport systems. We doubled the Department of Transportation's (DOTr's) budget to ₱214.3 billion from ₱105.96 billion with the Rail Transport Program receiving a chunk, at ₱163.75 billion; Land Public Transportation, some ₱6.42 billion; Aviation Infrastructure, ₱6.09 billion; and Maritime Infrastructure, ₱0.99 billion.

The Department of Public Works (DPWH) will continue to build, maintain, and restore roads and bridges to increase the mobility of products and services across the nation. The agency is allotted ₱822.20 billion — ₱322.15 billion of which will finance the establishment of an effective logistics and transit network for commodities.

Further, key programs to reduce transport and logistics costs, ensure road safety, and improve connectivity, include the asset preservation program (₱115.59B), the network development program (₱148.11B), and the bridge program (₱45.84B). Meanwhile, the convergence and special support program will enhance access roads for airports (₱0.88B), seaports (₱1.71B), and economic zones (₱10B).

To reduce transport costs of agricultural goods, strategic road networks and bridges between farms and mills will be established through the DA's ₱17.27 billion farm-to-market road program, ₱3.97 billion for the Philippine Rural Development Project, and ₱500 million for the Sugar Regulatory Administration's farm-to-mill roads and bridges under its sugarcane industry development program.

₱501 million was allocated to support programs that seek a reliable and sustainable mix of energy resources such as the DOE’s renewable energy development program, energy efficiency and conservation program, and alternative fuels and technologies program. Complementing this is ₱2.30 billion for NEA's Rural Electrification Program.

The DA’s fuel assistance program for farmers and fishermen will be maintained at ₱1 billion, while ₱2.5 billion will be allocated for fuel subsidies of affected public utility vehicle, taxi, tricycle, ride-hailing, and delivery service drivers nationwide.

The administration has elevated health as a priority following the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic. We believe that to protect the populace from upcoming health catastrophes, we need to further improve government healthcare services.

Thus, for the Department of Health's (DOH's) Health Facilities Enhancement Program in FY 2024, we allocated ₱22.98 billion to strengthen primary healthcare facilities. Additionally, ₱17.57 billion will be provided for the operations of Metro Manila hospitals and ₱49.75 billion for regional hospitals and other health facilities.

Meanwhile, ₱8.26 billion was earmarked for the implementation of health programs such as the national immunization, family planning, oral health, and micronutrient malnutrition programs. Further, the prevention and control of communicable diseases program will receive ₱4.76 billion.

At the same time, the ₱19.96 billion for the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Workers will cover the payment of Health Emergency Allowance and Covid-19 compensation package arrears for eligible healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Also, ₱17.98 billion will fund the National Health Workforce Support System to deploy approximately 26,035 healthcare workers to remote areas.

The National Health Insurance Program will receive ₱101.51 billion for accessible health services, as mandated by the Universal Health Care Law, while ₱22.26 billion will pay for medical assistance of 1.31 million indigent patients.

Beyond budget, the PBBM administration builds on the progress that has been made in its first year to attain our overarching goal of economic transformation. The proposed FY 2024 national budget aims to cater to the needs of our people and ensure that no one is left behind. We aim for every Filipino to enjoy a sufficient and sustainable food supply, access to transportation, energy, and power supply at reduced costs, and an improved healthcare system. By providing for these basic requirements, we will be able to remove the barriers to attaining an improved quality of life for the people, making them more productive and competitive for the overall growth of our nation.

(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the current Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)