The House Committee on Appropriations will begin on August 10 the deliberations on Malacañan’s proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024.
The House committee will immediately buckle down to work as the House of Representatives has formally received the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024 from the executive department.
Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, the panel’s chairperson, vowed to meticulously and closely scrutinize the 2024 National Expenditures Program (NEP).
He also vowed to work on the swift passage of the national spending plan as the House led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez targets to approve the money measure before Congress goes on a break in October.
“The appropriations panel is ready to diligently review every aspect of the budget proposal. The committee members understand the weight of their responsibility and are fully devoted to the task at hand,” Co said.
He pledged a transparent and effective budgetary process to the best interests of the nation and the Filipino people.
“Being entrusted with the oversight of the nation’s budget is a privilege and a solemn duty. We recognize the significance of this responsibility bestowed upon us by the people,” Co said.
“It is our duty to earnestly review and thoroughly understand every budget proposal to ensure that it addresses the pressing needs of our people,” he added.
According to Co, the Romualdez-led House aims to provide much-needed financial support to the Marcos administration’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and align with the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
The House appropriations committee will kickoff the budget discussions on Aug 10 with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to touch on the breakdowns of the trillion budget proposal.
It is expected to begin its plenary debates by September 18.
Co said the House commits to transmit the 2024 General Appropriations Bill to Senate by the end of September.
“As a united committee, we vow to leave no stone unturned in this rigorous process,” Co said. “We recognize the magnitude of our task, and we are resolute in our commitment to maintain the highest levels of transparency and accountability throughout the budgetary review,” Co stressed.
The 2024 NEP is pegged at P5.768 trillion or 9.5 percent higher than the current government budget.
Of the proposed P5.768 trillion, P893.3 billion or 15.5 percent will go to general public services, and P699.2 billion or 12.1 percent will go to the debt burden. Meanwhile, P287.2 billion, or 4.9 percent of the budget will go to defense.
Some P2.183 trillion or 37 percent will go to social services, and P1.709 trillion or 29.6 percent will go to economic services.
Based on the 2024 NEP, the education sector still gets the biggest budget allotment among the various branches of government at P924.7 billion.
This was followed by transportation, P214.3 billion; public works, P822.2 billion; social welfare, P209.9 billion; health – P306.1 billion; agriculture – P181.4 billion; interior and local government, P259.5 billion; judiciary, P57.8 billion; defense, P232.2 billion; and labor and employment, P40.5 billion.
“Priority programs of the administration that will be covered include the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) Program, School-based Feeding Program, Provision of Textbooks and Other Instructional Materials, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), among others,” Mr. Marcos said in his budget message.
Romualdez vowed to reciprocate the quick turnaround with equal efficiency on the part of the Lower House.
