Books containing budget details for 2017 proposed national budget.
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The 2017 proposed national budget amount is 3.350 trillion pesos.
It is 11.6% higher than the current 3.002 trillion 2016 budget.
Department of Budget and Management or DBM says the budget reflects the Duterte administration’s priorities for next year as it intensifies efforts to combat crime, illegal drugs, corruption and national territory.
The Philippine National Police’s budget for next year has increased by 24.6% while AFP’s rose to 15%.
Proposed fund for the Department of National Defense also increased from 117 billion to 134. 5 billion pesos.
The ARMM budget allocation for next year also doubled.
Among the agencies to get an increase are:
– Department of Education (DepEd)
– Department of Energy (DOE)
– Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
– Department of Justice (DOJ)
– Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
– Depatment of Science and Technology (DOST)
– Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
– Department of Transportation (DOTr)
– Judiciary
Also receiving a significant budget increase is the Office of the President, from P2 billion this year to P20 billion for next year.
DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno says this is for the project of different agencies under the Office of the President.
The government also allotted fund for:
– creation of rehabilitation centers.
– implementation of the RH Law.
– housing projects.
– CCT and rice allowance project for 3 million families fund for the police, military, soldier and uniform personnel salary increase.
– additional courts in the country.
– and infrastructure projects.
“It is putting our money where our mouth is. This budget is consistent with President Duterte’s 10 point agenda,” Budget Secretary Diokno said.
The secretary says there is no PDAF and they have taken away the bottom-up budgeting in 2017 proposed budget.
He assures that all agencies will receive appropriate budget.
“It is a transparent budget. It is compliant with the 2 landmark Supreme Court’s decisions in PDAF and DAP,” Sec. Diokno added.
When the secretary asked where they will get these significant amount of budget for next year, he answered:
“We are planning to broader the VAT base (…) We also expect to collect from non-tax revenues. We have increased the budget deficit from 3% to 3% of GDP.”
In the budget message of the president he says people are the reason for government’s very existence and the taxes of the people is the bloodlife of the government.
Meanwhile, the Senate of the Philippines has formally received today the 3.35 trillion 2017 proposed national budget.
Sec. Benjamin Diokno handed over 4 books containing the budget details to Senate President Koko Pimentel and Committee on Finance Chair Sen. Loren Legarda.
Sen. Legarda says the Senate Committee on Finance will start its budget deliberation on August 30, having it simultaneous with the Lower House for the first time.
“The 3 trillion, 300 billion budget is hereby presented to
us and we will exert to our best efforts. The early effective passage
of this most important piece of legislation,” Sen. Legarda said.
DBM says there is no budget allocated for Charter Change and emergency powers as these do not require a higher budget allocation. The secretary explained that they can use the existing contingency fund for these. — Grace Casin / UNTV News & Rescue
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