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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Budget passage shows House commitment to Pinoys' welfare--Speaker

Budget passage shows House commitment to Pinoys' welfare--Speaker

Published Sep 28, 2023 02:04 am

At A Glance

  • The expeditious House approval of the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2024 shows the chamber's commitment to the welfare of the Filipino people and its enduring pursuit of a more prosperous and equitable nation, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said.

IMG-37f9ed029ee46a79bad13bced91da929-V.jpgHouse Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

 

 

 

 

 

The expeditious House approval of the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2024 shows the chamber's commitment to the welfare of the Filipino people and its enduring pursuit of a more prosperous and equitable nation. 

Thus said House Speaker Martin Romualdez following the overwhelming passage of the 2024 spending plan during nominal voting in plenary late Wednesday night, Sept. 27. The voting result was 296-3-0 (yes-no-abstain) 

“Sa pagpasa natin ang 2024 [GAB], naging gabay ang mithiin natin na mabigyan ng ginhawa ang buhay ng ating mamamayan,” Romualdez said. 

(Our passage of the 2024 GAB was guided by our goal of giving our countrymen a comfortable life.) 

“Tiwala ako na hindi lamang makakatulong ang ipinasa nating budget para mapabuti ang kalagayan ng mga Pilipino. Susi rin ito para mag-tuloy-tuloy ang ating pagbangon tungo sa mas magandang kinabukasan,” added the Leyte 1st district congressman. 

(I believe that the budget we passed would not only help improve the state of Filipinos. It is always the key toward our unimpeded progress.) 

The Speaker expressed confidence that every centavo in the national budget was aligned with the administration's medium-term fiscal framework, the 8-point socioeconomic agenda, and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, reflecting the overarching goals of economic transformation towards inclusivity and sustainability. 

He also extended his gratitude to his fellow legislators, especially members of the minority bloc, for their diligent efforts and collaborative spirit in reaching this significant milestone. 

“I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the members of the minority bloc, without which we would not have been able to evaluate, scrutinize, and dissect the national budget and disentangle a number of legislative intricacies that challenge this august chamber every session day. What the minority bloc puts forth unto the process of lawmaking is truly essential and valued,” said Romualdez. 

The Committee on Appropriations began to scrutinize the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP)--the precursor of the GAB--on a per agency basis last Aug. 10. After four weeks of grueling committee level deliberations that was marked by marathon hearings, the GAB was subjected to the House plenary debates. 

The proposed 2024 national budget is 9.5 percent higher than this year’s budget of P5.267 trillion, and is equivalent to 21.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. 

The education sector receives the largest allocation at P924.7 billion, including funds for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education program, textbooks, and feeding programs. The Department of Education sees a 5.37 percent increase to P758.6 billion. 

Infrastructure priorities include the North-South Commuter Railway System and Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1. The Department of Public Works and Highways gets P822.2 billion with allocations for road improvement. The Department of Transportation's budget doubles to P214.3 billion, focusing on mass transport and rail systems. 

Agriculture receives P181.4 billion, supporting rice, corn, and high-value crops production. The Department of Health gets P306.1 billion, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development sees a 5.2 percent increase to P209.9 billion. The Department of National Defense's budget rises by 14.16 percent to P232.2 billion.

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general appropriations bill national budget Martin Romualdez
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