THE Senate yesterday approved on third and final reading the Marcos administration’s first national budget amounting to P5.268 trillion.
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) was approved by a vote of 21-0-0.
The approval comes on the heels of marathon hearings at the committee level and interpellations in plenary.
Angara said the 2023 budget addresses the post-COVID-19 pandemic needs of the people and supports the administration’s goal of ensuring food security, reviving education and preparing the country for the impacts of climate change, among others.
“Sa ilalim ng 2023 budget ay magkakaroon pa din ng ayuda para sa ating mga kababayan pero hindi na ito tulad ng nakaraang ayuda kung saan ay halos lahat ng tao ay nabigyan ng pera. Ngayon pili na sektor na ang bibigyan ng tulong at naka base ito sa bigat ng pangangailangan at naging epekto ng pandemya sa kanila (Under the 2023 budget, cash assistance to the poor is still included but this will be different compared to the previous assistance wherein nearly everyone got their share. Now, only targeted sectors will be given assistance based on their needs and how pandemic impacted their lives),” Angara said in his sponsorship speech.
Angara said funds have been allotted for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Protective Services to Individuals in Crisis Situations, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program (TUPAD) and Sustainable Livelihood Program.
Angara said that while the number of COVID-19 cases has steadily declined in the country, the 2023 budget will ensure that the government will still be able to respond to the continuing threats of the pandemic and that the health system remains strong.
He said the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health as well as the different DOH-operated hospitals, including the National Children’s Hospital, will receive additional funding from the national government.
The establishment of specialty hospitals in different regions also got their funding share.
Even the scandal-ridden Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth will receive a significant amount to support its Benefit Package Improvement program under the Universal Health Care Law.
Angara said PhilHealth can use its appropriation to expand the coverage for dialysis services, mental health outpatient services, benefit packages, severe acute malnutrition and for outpatient services.
The budget sponsor said fuel vouchers will continue to be provided to public utility vehicle operators and drivers, while farmers and fisherfolk will also receive fuel assistance to help them cope with the rising prices of fuel.
In the education sector, Angara said additional funds were poured to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Program, Senior High School Voucher Program, Education Service Contracting for Junior High School, Student Financial Assistance Programs, Joint Delivery Voucher for Senior High School Technical-Vocational-Livelihood Track, and Private Education Student Financial Assistance.
Angara said that to better prepare government disaster agencies amid the rising number of and more frequent occurrence of typhoons and other natural calamities, the Senate hiked the budget of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management or calamity fund to P31 billion for 2023. The calamity fund for 2021 and 2022 was at P20 billion.
The 2023 budget also allocated P1 billion for the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Fund.
Funding was also provided for the “Libreng Sakay” program of the Department of Transportation that has benefited a lot of commuters who have been dealing with the rising price of fuel and its corresponding impacts on other goods and services.
As part of the continuing efforts to decentralize and devolve several functions of the national government to local government units, the 2023 budget set aside P820.27 billion as National Tax Allotment to be distributed among the LGUs.
Angara said the bicameral conference committee that would reconcile the different versions of the Senate and the House of Representatives will convene on Friday.
The Senate bicameral panel members are Senators Angara, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Ronald dela Rosa, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Risa Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Francis Tolentino, Mark Villar, JV Ejercito, Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, and Jinggoy Estrada.
Congress is eyeing to complete the budgetary process by the first week of December so it can be transmitted to Malacañang before the end of the year.
