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Rody signs P5-T natl budget, hails it as bolstering recovery

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President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday signed the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022 — the last under his administration — which was ratified by Congress on December 15.

RECOVERY BUDGET. President Rodrigo Duterte signs the P5-trillion 2022 national budget at the Palace on Thursday, December 30, 2021.

In a ceremony in Malacanang, Duterte said signing the national budget into law is crucial in implementing the government’s response against the COVID-19 pandemic and helping economic recovery efforts.

“The passage of the General Appropriations Act of 2022 reflects the healthy collaboration among all branches of government which is crucial in the attainment of our national development goals especially during these trying times,” he said in a speech during the signing ceremony.

Duterte said the national budget shows the government’s “strongcommitment to provide a more comfortable and productive life for each Filipino” and also “cements the administration’s legacy of real change for future generations.”

He said that legacy is centered on “resiliency amidst the pandemic, sustaining momentum towards recovery and continuing the legacy of infrastructure development.”

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Among his administration’s flagship programs is the “Build, Build, Build” campaign for big-ticket infrastructure projects that the government said is meant to address a lack of investment in public services in past administrations.

The significant items in the 2022 spending bill include the P50-billion fund for COVID-19 vaccines and P22.9 billion for the improvement of health facilities.

Leaders of the House of Representatives on Thursday expressed their gratitude to President Duterte for the swift signing of the P5.024-trillion GAA of 2022.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said with the 2022 GAA in place, the government’s recovery efforts will not be hampered in the coming year.

Velasco stressed: “Both the 2021 and 2022 national budgets are the most important policy instruments of our government as we begin to navigate a path to recovery from the COVID-19 crisis next year.”

“We, in Congress, extend our deep appreciation to President Duterte for guiding us to the right path,” Romualdez, representative of Leyte’s first district and president of the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats, added.

The 2022 GAA will strengthen the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Senate Finance committee chairperson Sen. Sonny Angara stressed yesterday.

He said “there can be no letup” in the fight against COVID-19 and its new variants.

“As long as we are able to contain the spread of the virus, we can have more confidence in sustaining the recovery of the economy and the return to normal of the lives of most, if not all, of our kababayans,” said Angara.

Romualdez said the 2022 national budget “reflects the Duterte administration’s determination to shield the Filipino people from the devastating effects of the global pandemic without abandoning its intention to continue paving the road for full economic recovery.”

“Our spending plan is clear on its mission: save precious lives, protect the health of everyone, generate jobs and livelihood opportunities, and pump prime the economy to full recovery,” he added.

Romualdez said with the 2022 GAA, “we are confident that we have done our part in helping realize the President’s vision of a Filipino nation that offers better living conditions for its people.”

Velasco said the 2022 GAA includes “a host of spending initiatives that will help sustain our efforts to beat COVID-19.”

It provides funding for the benefits and compensation of health care workers, procurement of coronavirus booster shots, emergency hiring of medical frontliners, and other programs aimed to fight the effects of the pandemic, the Speaker added.

“We also thank our colleagues in both chambers of Congress for coming together to ensure that key programs which are vital to our economic recovery and our continued efforts against the pandemic get sufficient funding. All these will help immensely in providing us the momentum to get the country back to its feet in the coming year,” Velasco added.

According to Angara, his committee worked tirelessly to ensure that the 2022 national budget was approved on time.

“This is even more significant at this time, amid the efforts to control the spread of the new Omicron variant of COVID, as several regions of our country were hit by Typhoon Odette, causing widespread destruction,” the senator added.

He said the magnitude of Odette has never been seen before by the communities affected.

With the signing of the 2022 General Appropriations Act, Angara said urgently needed funds can already be released at the start of the year to help the communities ravaged by Typhoon Odette.

“So, it is important to give them the needed financial help to rebuild their houses, hospitals, schools, and other infrastructures which will benefit those affected,” he said.

“Our gratitude also goes to the vice chairpersons of the Committee on Finance: Senators Pia Cayetano, Ronald Dela Rosa, Win Gatchalian, Bong Go, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva and Cynthia Villar, who strived to ensure the on-time completion of the budget deliberations,” said Angara.

“We also acknowledge the work of our counterparts from the House of Representatives, who just like our fellow senators, were one in recognizing the urgency of approving the 2022 GAA — knowing fully well the disastrous consequences of having a reenacted budget,” he added.

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