Palace asks Senate to swiftly approve budget

MALACAÑANG has asked the Senate to approve the government’s version of the national budget, after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed P3.77trillion budget for 2018.

“We hope that the Senate can swiftly approve its own version of the bill on the national budget so that our lawmakers can start working to harmonize their versions of the bill when a bicameral conference committee is convened,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella said at a briefing in Malacañang.

On Tuesday, 223 legislators voted to pass the proposed P3.77trillion budget in 2018.

The proposed budget was submitted on July 24, when President Rodrigo R. Duterte delivered his second State of the Nation Address.

“The submission of the proposed P3.767- trillion budget on July 24 marks the first time since the administration of former (President) Fidel V. Ramos that the budget proposal was submitted on the day of the President’s State of the Nation Address,” Mr. Abella said.

“The rationale behind this is to give Congress ample time to review the budget and to approve it,” he added.

The biggest portion of the proposed budget will be allotted for education and infrastructure.

A total of P701.5 billion will go to the education sector, with the Department of Education getting P583.1 billion, State Universities and Colleges allocated P61.6 billion, the Commission on Higher Education given P49.9 billion, and the Technical and Skills Development Authority in line for P6.9 billion.

On Sept. 21, the House of Representatives approved P40 billion in separate funding to fund free higher education at public universities.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, meanwhile, will receive a budget of P639.8 billion.

“The proposed budget for 2018 is 12.4% higher than our 2017 budget. And through our 2018 National Budget, we hope to lay down the foundation for a Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay, as anchored on our Philippine Development Plan 2017- 2022,” Mr. Abella added, citing the plan’s goals for citizens to enjoy a stable, comfortable and confident life. —