Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Friday questioned the minimal increase in the 2018 proposed budget of agencies that deliver social services to supposedly reduce poverty in the country, compared to those in the infrastructure sector
“If we are to believe the policy thrust of this administration, as enunciated by the good sponsor, to address poverty alleviation, there appears to be a disconnect between the increases in the budget of the social services sector and the infrastructure sector,” Drilon said.
He noted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development proposed budget for next year had the lowest increase while the infrastructure sector will enjoy a tremendous increase.
He said the Department of Public Works and Highways will enjoy a 40.3-percent fiscal boost because of the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” policy but agencies involved in social services will only receive an increase of less than 10 percent, as follows: DSWD – 6.2 percent Department of Education – 8 percent and the Department of Health – 8.4 percent.
He also pointed to the huge slash in the budget of housing agencies—from from P15.3 billion this year to P4.7 billion or 70 percent in 2018.
The opposition senator earlier proposed to restore the housing budget and get the money from the huge intelligence funds of the Office of the President.
Senate finance committee chairman Senator Loren Legarda, who sponsored the DSWD budget, explained that social services “will continue to receive the biggest bulk” of the 2018 budget.
“In nominal terms, the social services [sector] will continue to receive the biggest bulk [of the national budget] at P1.42 trillion with a 5.44-percent increase,” she said.
Legarda added that the increased budget for infrastructure would create more jobs and livelihood opportunities.
She welcomed any proposed amendments that would channel more funds for social services. She also vowed to support the expanded coverage of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, pending the DSWD review validate the 4Ps records. The proposed DSWD budget for 2018 does not provide additional funds for more 4Ps beneficiaries.
4Ps is the primary anti-poverty scheme of the government that currently covers 4.4-million households.
“The NEP (National Expenditure Program) did not increase the number of (4Ps) beneficiaries. I would try to find the funds to introduce it as an amendment to increase the share of the sector,” said Legarda.
Legarda said that the anti-poverty program has improved the welfare of poor households, and has a positive effect on poverty alleviation at the national level.
For her part, Senator Nancy Binay thanked fellow senators for putting a smile on the faces of the elderly and abandoned children under the care of the DSWD..
During the hearing for the 2018 proposed budget of the DSWD, Binay asked for a P1 billion increase in the DSWD’s budget intended to support and improve the agency’s activity centers and care institutions.
“What Senator Loren Legarda revealed about the current state of our DSWD centers was very depressing. Due to the lack of funding, not all these centers can provide the care and support for our elderly and children. As our welfare agency, the DSWD must be capacitated and able to step in to help,” Binay said.
Legarda conceded that the agency’s 71 activity centers nationwide were not allocated capital outlay for its facilities for the past few years.
She even said that there are DSWD activity centers that have patients and residents who sleep on the floors because these centers did not have enough beds.
The GRACES Home for the Elderly in Quezon City has a bed capacity of 200 patients. However, it is now home for 285 senior citizens. The DSWD Reception and Study Center can house up to 505 children but it currently has 765 residents.
The finance committee chair also suggested amendments to the agency’s capital outlay budget for rehabilitation and construction of new buildings and facilities. The Senate Finance chair likewise asked for an increase in the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) so the DSWD can supplement the daily operations of the centers.
“This is why we suggested for the P1 billion amendment to the proposed 2018 DSWD budget so that the agency can fund new facilities and activity centers throughout the country. We need this amendment so that our elderly and abandoned children can have nutritious meals thrice a day and they have a comfortable bed to sleep in,” Binay said.
