MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / July 12, 2014) – The Department of Budget and Management headed by Secretary Florencio Abad has proposed a P2.606 trillion budget for next year which is 15% higher than the 2014 national budget.
President Benigno Aquino also directed his Cabinet officials to “fine-tune” the budget assumptions and planning parameters for next year’s budget, according to government spokesman Herminio Coloma.
“The President directed the Cabinet to further fine-tune the budget assumptions and planning parameters so that these may be fully explained and justified at the hearings to be conducted by the Congress,” Coloma said.
Another meeting may be convened before the National Expenditure Program Budget Proposal is approved and finalized and submitted to Congress after Aquino’s State of the Nation Address late this month.
Among the key expenditures of the 2015 national budget includes Social Protection and Social Services, Job Generation and Economic Expansion, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Enabling Environment for Inclusive Development.
Under social protection, the government is increasing the budget for the conditional cash transfer (anti-poverty) program from P62.6 billion to P78 billion due to an increase in coverage from 4.3 million households to 5 million households based on the National Household Targeting System.
The government is also boosting the allocation for the National Health Insurance Program from P35.3 billion to P37.2 billion. The insurance coverage increases from 14.7 million to 15.4 million.
The 2015 national budget also gives additional allocation for basic educational facilities such as classrooms, water and sanitation, from P44.6 billion to P52.7 billion.
To create more jobs, the Aquino government is also allotting more money for the Department of Public Works and Highways to build roads and bridges, an increase from P130.4 billion to P186.6 billion.
The budget for tourism infrastructure development was also increased from P14.7 billion to P20 billion as international tourists increased from 6.8 million to 8.2 million, and domestic tourists from 47.7 million to 51.7 million.
Coloma said the government is also focused on addressing the impact of climate change, as it allotted more budget for DPWH’s flood control and drainage projects, from P34.8 billion to P38.6 billion.
The budget is expected to be scrutinized by the opposition following the decision of the Supreme Court against Abad and Aquino’s controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program which is unconstitutional. And the scandal involving government funds called Priority Development Assistance Fund given to senators and congressmen.
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