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MAHIGIT isang linggo matapos ang State of the Nation Address ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., isinumite ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) sa Kamara ang P5.768-trilyong panukalang budget para sa susunod na taon.
Sa isang seremonyang ginanap sa Bulwagang Daniel Romualdez sa Batasang Pambansa Complex, personal na tinanggap ng Kamara sa pangunguna ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez ang sipi ng 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) mula kay Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
Kumpara sa P5.268-trillion 2023 General Appropriations Act, mas malaki ng 9.5% (katumbas ng P500 bilyon) ang isinusulong na NEP ng administrasyon.
Paliwanag ni Pangandaman, ang 2024 NEP, na nakabatay sa tema nitong “Agenda for Prosperity: Securing a Future-Proof And Sustainable Economy,” ay kinapapalooban ng 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda at patuloy na pagsuporta sa layunin ng Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
Alinsunod sa probisyon ng Saligang Batas, pinakamalaki ang inilaang pananalapi sa sektor ng edukasyon na may alokasyong P924.7 bilyong paghahati-hatian ng Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) at Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Sumunod ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), na may nakalaang P823.2 bilyon; pangatlo ang Department of Health (DOH) na popondohan ng P306.1 bilyon; Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), P2.59.5 bilyon; Department of National Defense (DND), P232.2 bilyon; Department of Transportation (DOTr) P224.3 bilyon, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), P209.9 bilyon, Department of Agriculture (DA) P181.4 bilyon; Judiciary na may pondong P57.8 bilyon; at Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), na makatatanggap ng P40.5 bilyon.
Bukod kina Romualdez at Pangandaman, kabilang rin sa mga personalidad na dumalo sa formal turnover ng 2024 NEP sina DBM Asec. Mary Anne Dela Vega, Usec. Janet Abuel, Dr. Joselito Basilio, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rep. Zaldy Co, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, at House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Stella Luz Quimbo.
Ayon kay Romualdez, hangad ng panukalang P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget mapabuti ang produksyon ng sektor ng agrikultura sa pag-ani ng bigas at mais; at mapababa ang transportation cost ng iba pang mga produktong pagkain.
“The national budget will provide increased allocations for the Department of Agriculture’s banner programs to boost the production of prime commodities such as rice, corn and high-value crops, and fisheries among others. Higher investments will also be provided for the construction of more fish ports and farm-to-market roads all over the country,” pagtatapos ni Romualdez.
