Sunday, October 12, 2008 House approves P1.415-T budget for 2009
THE House of Representatives passed Saturday on second reading the P1.425-trillion budget proposed by the government for 2009.
"We have just passed a very flexible, reform-oriented budget, and a recession-responsive policy action that our people can depend on, an antidote to economic stagnation," said House Speaker Prospero Nograles in a media interview.
Nograles commended the House appropriations panel headed by Quirino Representative Junie Cua and all the deputy speakers for the lengthy but speedy deliberations on the budget proposal.
"My gratitude also to all media members who patiently covered the proceedings and served as our most effective bridge to our people, and to all staff of the House of Representatives for a job well done," he said.
According to the Speaker, the proposed outlay supports the government's priority programs and projects for the year 2009 and designed to meet any and all contingencies that may arise as a result of the current global economic slowdown spawned by the US financial crisis.
"Despite the US government's $700 billion bailout package, we cannot be complacent but should anticipate any possible ill-effects the crisis may have on the Philippine economy," he said.
"Infrastructure development programs would help pump prime the economy while promoting the absorptive capacities of implementing agencies. We also have to heighten tax collections by improving tax administration," Nograles added.
The proposed budget will have to pass through the third reading in the House before it will be submitted to the Senate.
The Senate has been holding its own hearings on the budget to make sure the process ends early, possibly in time for its signing into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before the yearend.
Malacañang meanwhile lauded the House for the early passage of the proposed budget.
The importance of the budget cannot be overstressed because it is where key government programs for next year will get funding, according to deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr.
"That's where the funding for next year's programs will come. We thank members of Congress for cooperating with us," he said Saturday over government-run dzRB radio. "All agencies of the government are happy over the development."
Under Committee Report 1323 on the General Appropriations Act or House Bill (HB) 5116, the highest priority is given to the Department of Education (DepEd) with P167.9-billion, or an increase of P18.7-billion from its 2008 level of P149.2-billion.
At second spot is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with P120-billion, and increase of P17.6-billion from the 2008 outlay of P102.4-billion.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) comes next with P61.9-billion followed by the Department of National Defense (DND) with P61.5-billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) with P39.7-billion, the Department of Health (DOH) with P27.8-billion, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) with P23.6-billion, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) with P16.1-billion, the Department of Finance (DOF) with P13.8-billion, and the Judiciary with P12.8-billion.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will receive P10.5-billion, which is higher by 114.3 percent from its 2008 budget of P4.9-billion. (JMR/With Press release/Sunnex)
