PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 28, 2020, signed into law the P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021.
The budget includes a P72.5-billion allocation for the purchase, storage, transportation and distribution of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
With the signing of the 2021 national budget, the President said his administration could continue pursuing its flagship Build, Build, Build program, revitalize the industry and service sectors, and support much-needed social services projects.
“This important piece of legislation attests to the importance of an active and fruitful collaboration between the executive and the legislative branches of government, especially at this time when the health and welfare of our people are at stake,” Duterte told some members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who attended the signing ceremony in Malacañang.
The President assured the public that every centavo contained in the 2021 national expenditures program would be spent to ensure the nation’s recovery, resilience and sustainability.
Under the 2021 national budget, the education sector received the lion’s share of P708 billion.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) came second with P694 billion while the country’s health sector got the third highest allocation with P287 billion.
Duterte said the ratification of the 2021 budget manifests the commitment of all stakeholders to set aside divisive partisan politics for national good.
He commended the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and civil society partners, which provided extensive knowledge and technical expertise in crafting the expenditure program that will enable the country to rebuild and push the economy forward.
“As we look forward with hope for the coming year, let me assure the public that this administration will ensure the efficient use of our resources through a sound fiscal policy that will enable us to overcome the debilitating effects of the pandemic on public health and our economy,” he added.
Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, in a statement, said the budget will pave the way for the purchase of the vaccines and the implementation of the following key programs: