Pres. Aquino signs PHP3-T budget for 2016; budget will push inclusive growth

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (Photo by the Malacañang Photo Bureau/Benhur Arcayan)

MANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino on Tuesday signed into law the PHP3.002-trillion national budget for 2016, adding another record for the country for passing the General Appropriations Act (GAA) on time.

“Sa pagtutulungan ng Ehekutibo, at ng Kongreso, at ng iba’t iba pang institusyon, panibagong rekord na naman ang ating nakamit. Ito po ang ikaanim na sunod na taon na naipasa ang Budget ng Bayan sa tamang oras,” the President said during the signing of the 2016 GAA.

Pres. Aquino said passing the budget on time is important to enable the government to continuously provide services for more Filipinos and achieve inclusive growth.

“Malinaw ang hangad natin: Inclusive growth. Sa paglalaan ng makatwirang pondo sa ating mga ahensiya at programa, nabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kababayang makasabay sa pag-angat ng ekonomiya,” he said.

The Chief Executive said his administration has been pushing for thorough consultations so the people themselves will determine key projects that should be funded.

“Alam naman po natin, masusulit lang ang mga bumubukas na pagkakataon kung may sapat na kakayahan ang Pilipinong sagarin ang benepisyong dulot nito. Kaya patuloy ang pagbuhos natin ng pondo sa mga serbisyong panlipunan na nagbibigay-lakas sa ating mga Boss,” he added.

For 2016, President Aquino said the Department of Education (DepEd) will receive the largest budget of PHP436.5 billion.

The President stressed that the funding will enable the government address inherited backlogs in classrooms, books, school armchairs and teachers.

“Bahagi nito ang pagpapatayo ng 47,553 classrooms, pagbili ng 103.2 million bagong textbooks, at pag-hire ng 79,691 positions para sa teaching and non-teaching personnel,” he added.

The Chief Executive said PHP62.7 billion has been earmarked to support the expanded poverty alleviation program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, to cover an estimated 4.6 million beneficiaries.

“Talaga naman pong wala tayong hinayang na magbuhos ng pondo sa ganitong mga programa, lalo pa’t ngayon pa lang, nakikita na natin ang positibong resulta nito. Ayon nga po sa inisyal na pag-aaral ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), 1.5 million na kabahayan o katumbas ng 7.5 million na Pilipino ang naiangat na lampas sa tinatawag na poverty line dahil sa Pantawid Pamilya,” President Aquino said.

Meanwhile, the President Aquino said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will receive PHP400.4-billion budget next year.

“Kabilang sa susuportahan nito ang pagtatapos ng lahat ng national roads at pagpapagawa ng flood control projects upang maibsan ang pinsalang dulot ng pagbaha,” he said.

The President reiterated his administration’s goal to increase infrastructure investments to 5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016 from this year’s 4 percent.

“Ang bawat ipinapatayong kalsada, tulay, daungan, paliparan, paaralan, farm-to-market roads, at iba pang imprastraktura sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa ay bahagi ng ating estratehiya tungo sa malawakang kaunlaran,” he said.

Moreover, Pres. Aquino said PHP38.9 billion has been also allotted for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund meant to prepare the country for the effects of climate change.

“Bahagi po nito ay ipagkakaloob sa ating programang pangrehabilitasyon, kabilang na ang Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan. Nariyan din po ang pagpapatayo natin ng karagdagang evacuation centers at pagsusuri sa kalidad ng mga pampublikong gusali upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga kababayan nating apektado ng sakuna,” he added.