Palace says DBM to submit proposed 2023 budget to Congress on Aug. 22

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will submit the documents of the 2023 national budget to Congress on August 22, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Friday.

According to the Press Secretary, the budget documents will be first submitted to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on August 19.

“DBM is scheduled to submit the budget documents to the President on 19 August 2022, not next week as mentioned earlier on the press briefing, and the same is expected to be submitted to Congress on August 22, 2022,” Cruz-Angeles clarified in a statement.

At a press briefing, Cruz-Angeles said the DBM, during today's Cabinet meeting, presented its proposals that would be submitted to lawmakers. The biggest allocation in the budget would still be for the education sector.

"The same priorities hold to the Constitution requires the biggest budgetary allocation for education. So it’s still the same. Hindi masyado nagbago from last year (There's no huge difference from last year). I would like to remind you most of the budget was created by the last administration," Cruz-Angeles said.

Asked how much is being allotted for COVID-19 response, she said there is no detail yet for that as particular budgets are still being "fine tuned."

"We don't have details kasi fina-fine tune... the presentation was for today so that the secretaries can finetune the particular budgets,” Cruz-Angeles said.

The DBM earlier said next year's P5.2 trillion budget would prioritize education, health, social safety nets, infrastructure and agriculture.

It will "endeavor to craft a budget anchored on the 8-point Socio-Economic Agenda towards sustainable and inclusive budget for prosperity and economic transformation." — RSJ, GMA News