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Ni Estong Reyes
NAISALANG na sa plenaryo ng Senado ang General Appropriation Bill (GAB), na naglalaman ng P5.768 trillion panukalang national budget sa 2024, na nakatakdang ipagtanggol at ipaliwanag ni Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sonny Angara.
Sa kanyang speech, sinabi ni Angara na pinanatili ng badyet ang obhektibo ng nakaraan, upang matiyak na mapopondohan ang flagship program ng pamahalaan tulad ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Build Better More program, Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act at Tulong Trabaho Act.
“The avowed goals of this budget are no different from last year’s. If anything, in this proposal, we see more clearly the administration’s ideas on how to encourage growth, slash poverty, narrow the budget deficit and reduce debt, jumpstart the economy’s transformation, and finally cement our status as an upper middle-income nation,” ani Angara sa kanyang sponsorship speech.
“The general aim is still to pursue the agenda for prosperity, framed by the eight-point socioeconomic agenda of the administration,” dagdag niya.
Ilalaan ang mahigit P4.302 trillion sa new appropriations, at umabot sa P4.2 trillion ay programmed funds at P281.908 billion ang unprogrammed.
Agriculture
Alinsunod na eight point economic agenda, sinabi ni Angara na naglaan ng halagang P107.75 billion budget sa banner programs ng Department of Agriculture (DA) na tumutudla sa food security.
Karamihan dito ang programa sa bigas, mais, kahyupan, high value crops development, soil health, fisheries, agricultural research and development, buffer stocking.
Patuloy na mamimigay din ang pamahalaan ang fuel assistance sa mangingisda at magsasaka na nakatakda sa budget bill.
“The committee hopes the budget will help newly-minted DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in fulfilling his mandate, especially with the rising prices of basic commodities,” aniya.
Transportation
Bukod sa infrastructure programs ng Department of Transportation, naglaan din ng fuel subsidy sa public utility vehicles (PUVs).
“The government’s service contracting program for PUV drivers first implemented during the coronavirus pandemic will also continue under the proposed budget with P1.3 billion worth of funding,” ayon pa kay Angara.
Education
Samantala, nakatakda sa 2024 proposed budget ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang pagtaaas ng P3.5 billion na may kabuuang P718.08 billion upang tugunan ang learning sa panahon ng COVID-19 pandemic at mapahusay ang educational system.
“Some programs for senior high school students (SHS) will likewise be funded under the budget including the SHS voucher program and the national certification of Grade 12 students who opted to take the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority,” ayon kay Angara.
“The budget for the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) and the Tulong Trabaho Fund will also be augmented,” dagdag niya.
Health
Bilang pagtugon sa kakapusan ng healthcare workers, itinaas ang badyet sa ‘Doktor para sa Bayan’ program sa halagang P125 million.
“Additional funding will also be directed to several health facilities in the country including the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center, the National Children’s Hospital, the construction of a new hospital in Naga City, the completion of the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital, the construction of the Tagbilaran Mega Super Health Center, the equipment of Surigao Island Medical Center and of Cotabato Regional and Medical Center,” paliwanag ng senador.
Socialized programs
Magpapatuloy din ang pamamahagi ng subsidies sa panukalang badyet kabilang ang
P49.8 billion budget para sa Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens; at P56.3 billion funding para sa Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances (AICS) sa ilalim ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Defense
Inendorso naman ng komite ang dagdag na pondo sa defense sector upang malapakas ang pangangalaga sa pambansang seguridad, mapanatili ang territorial integrity at itaguyod ang soberenya.
“The budget of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center will also be augmented to help the agency in coordinating and monitoring cybercrime plans and policies,” giit ni Angara.
