Budget chief sees faster budget execution

BUDGET Secretary Florencio Abad said Wednesday that he expects faster budget execution following the early passage of the House of Representatives of the P2.006 trillion budget for 2013.

Abad lauded the House for passing the 2013 General Appropriations bill, which was approved in third and final reading with no major amendments.

"For the third year in a row, we will continue the Aquino administration's tradition of enacting the National Budget at the earliest possible time. This will allow us to make quicker and more substantial releases to agencies so they can implement next year's programs and projects with equal speed," Abad said.  

He thanked the committee on appropriations chair Joseph Abaya for the "swift and efficient passage of the 2013 proposed budget in its original version."

"We trust that our colleagues in the Senate will likewise move for the quick approval of the expenditure bill to facilitate the early passage of the 2013 GAB, according to schedule," Abad added.

Senate finance committee chair Franklin Drilon said the chamber will begin to dissect each detail of the 2013 national budget once they resume plenary session in November.

Drilon promised to wrap up hearings on the individual budgets of departments before the Senate will go on a two-week break beginning Thursday to give way for the Halloween break.

"We will not allow any delay in the approval of the budget. We are committed to pass the budget on time in order to enable the government to implement its crucial projects and programs especially infrastructure at the start of the year to take advantage of good weather in the early months," Drilon said.

Drilon said the budget will be submitted to Malacañang by the second week of December to give President Benigno Aquino III enough time to review the measure.

Next year's P2.006-trillion proposed budget, dubbed the 2013 Empowerment Budget, is 10.5 percent higher than this year's P1.816-trillion program.

The proposed budget seeks to deepen the Aquino administration's commitment to improved governance, increased economic growth, and a stronger anti-poverty platform.

Under the proposed expenditure program, the budget for social services will still receive the bulk of appropriations, taking up 34.8 percent or P698.8 billion of the National Budget to enhance the Aquino administration’s poverty alleviation efforts, particularly through better health and education services.  

Another 25.5 percent or P511.1 billion will be devoted to economic services, while general public services and debt burden will receive 17.3 percent and 16.6 percent, respectively. Finally, defense-related services will receive P89.7 billion or 4.5 percent of the total budget.

"We crafted this proposed budget in conjunction with various stakeholders, including civil society groups and representatives of some of the country's poorest communities. The spirit driving this budget—that of empowerment—affirms that citizen engagement is necessary if we are to serve Filipinos better, particularly the poor and marginalized," Abad said. (Jill Beltran/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)