2023 national budget sponsored in Senate

The General Appropriations Bill (GAB) containing the P5.268-proposed national budget for 2023 reached the Senate plenary on Tuesday, after Finance Committee chairman Sonny Angara sponsored the budget bill a day after the 19th Congress resumed its sessions.

Angara said that P1.597 trillion will be tagged as automatic appropriations, while P4.259 trillion will cover the P3.671 trillion new programmed appropriations and P588 billion unprogrammed appropriations.

Although this is the first budget of the new administration, Angara said the 2023 GAB will still fund the big programs and projects of the previous government.

Among these are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTEA) and Tulong Trabaho Fund; and the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program, which will now be called "Build Better More." 

39% increase for agri

Angara said the Senate Finance Committee report on the 2023 GAB will be in line with the eight-point near-term socioeconomic agenda as enshrined in the administration's Medium Term Fiscal Framework.

With food security on top of the administration's priority, the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, and the Department of Agrarian Reform will receive up to P179.762 billion or a 39.5-percent increase from the agriculture's sector's 2022 funding.

DSWD, DOLE

For social protection, the senator said the Senate has increased the funds for the Protective Services for Individuals and Families (PSIF) in Difficult Circumstances in the Department of Social Welfare and Development, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, Assistance to Communities in Need, among others.

The 2023 GAB will still provide allocations for the Department of Labor and Employment's emergency employment programs such as the Integrated Livelihood Programs, the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program (TUPAD), the Government Internship Program, and the Adjustment Measures Program (AMP).

Fuel vouchers

Financial assistance in the form of fuel vouchers from the Department of Transportation for the owners and operators of public utility vehicles, taxis, tricycles and ride-hailing services is funded under the proposed budget measure amid the rising fuel prices, Angara said.

The fuel subsidy will likewise cover farmers who are included in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.

QRF

Under the Senate panel's version of the budget, Angara said they had increased the appropriations for the Quick Response Funds under the Office of the Secretaries in the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health, Works and Highways, and Social Welfare and Development, Bureau of Fire Protection,  Philippine National Police, and Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense.

The lawmaker said they have "assured" resources devoted to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund, which includes the appropriations for the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Fund.

Funds are also secured in the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, specifically in the National Housing Agency, for a housing assistance program for calamity victims.

DepEd

On the government's push to return to in-person classes, Angara said the 2023 GAB allows the Department of Education to use its maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) to ensure that there is proper ventilation in public schools, buy COVID-19 test kits for the faculty and staff, and for the rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities, among others.

Considering the DepEd's pursuit to address the classroom shortage in the country, Angara said the budget bill allows the DepEd to lease private school facilities which are not being utilized.

Apart from the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education program, the Senate panel also strengthened other scholarship programs such as the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program; Education Service Contracting (ESC) for Junior High School; Student Financial Assistance Programs; Joint Delivery Voucher for SHS Technical-Vocational-Livelihood Specialization; and the Private Education Student Financial Assistance.

Further, Angara said Technical Education And Skills Development Authority scholarships such as the Special Training for Employment Program, the Training for Work Scholarship Program, and the Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program or TTSP will still be funded under the 2023 budget.

Vaccines

Also secured in the proposed budget measure is the funds for the purchase of vaccines for COVID-19 and possibly even for monkeypox and other emerging diseases.

Angara said they also ensured that funds will be available for Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Healthcare Workers and non-Healthcare Workers.

The Universal Health Care Program will receive "significant funding" of P315 billion in the proposed budget and there will be budgetary support to the operations of various DOH regional hospitals, specialty hospitals, and DOH programs, Angara said.

Build Better More

In line with the "Build Better More" initiative, Angara  said the Senate retained the increase of the appropriations for the development and rehabilitation of various airports in the country under the Department of Transportation and the following transportation infrastructures:

• MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project
• LRT-1 Cavite Extension
• North-South Commuter Railway System
• PNR South Long Haul Project
• Metro Manila Subway
• EDSA Busway Project
• Cebu BRT Project

The Senate panel also affirmed increases in the funding of the Department of Public Works and Highways' Network Development Program for road widening projects, construction of road links, flyovers, diversion roads, among others.

Packages of priority road projects under the convergence and special support program will also be funded extensively that are consistent with the plans and strategies of other agencies like the NEDA, DOT, DTI, and even the DND, Angara said.

The Senate finance panel chairman said that the proposed 2023 budget will allow local communities to have a more direct role in their own development through devolution and decentralization.

Angara said the proposed 2023 budget will be introduced considering the following factors: population, prices, projects, and personnel services.

It will also consider the other "exigent conditions that can also cause tectonic shifts in our fiscal positions" such as the pandemic, the Typhoon Paeng and the war in Ukraine. — BM, GMA Integrated News