PRRD submits proposed P3.757-T 2019 nat’l budget

“For Fiscal Year 2019, we submit for your perusal and approval, a National Budget that will amplify the forces and resources to effectively and efficiently build our nation, in order to draw more of our people from the clutches of poverty and maintain law and order, so everybody lives in peaceful co-existence,” Duterte said in his message entitled “Building A Bright Future for the Philippines and Its People”. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has submitted to Congress the proposed PHP3.757-trillion 2019 National Budget that seeks to boost the government’s efforts to “effectively and efficiently” build a bright future for the Filipino people.

“For Fiscal Year 2019, we submit for your perusal and approval, a National Budget that will amplify the forces and resources to effectively and efficiently build our nation, in order to draw more of our people from the clutches of poverty and maintain law and order, so everybody lives in peaceful co-existence,” Duterte said in his message entitled “Building A Bright Future for the Philippines and Its People”.

The House of Representatives received the proposed national budget on Monday, the same day Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the national budget documents include the President’s budget message, where Duterte identified key budget priorities for next year.

These, according to Roque, include intensifying infrastructure development, expanding programs on human development, building a more secure and peaceful nation, and other select major social programs.

“We commended the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) for the early submission of the 2019 national budget, which is after the State of the Nation Address,” Roque said.

“We will now gear up to ensure full and speedy rollout,” he added.

He said the proposed national budget is cash-based, which means the country “will not borrow it and we will only spend whatever we have.”

Roque said the immediate passage of the national budget would serve as a test for new House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Nonetheless, we are confident that because this budget is intended to build, build, build, which means more projects for all congressmen and legislators as well, that it will be passed on time,” he said.

Duterte assured that the 2019 National Budget is designed to be  modern and an open budget for accountability and service delivery.

“It is imperative that we modernize our budgeting system to meet international standards and adopt good practices,” Duterte said in his message.

The President said the PHP3.757 trillion case-based appropriations of the national government for 2019 represents a 13-percent increase from the current year’s case-based appropriations of PHP3.324 trillion.

“This means that more programs and projects in the 2019 budget will be completed, delivered, inspected and accepted by the end of the fiscal year,” he said.

From the proposed 2019 budget, the social services sector will get the biggest share of PHP1.

377 trillion or 36 percent, followed by the economic services with PHP1.068 trillion (28.4 percent), general public services with PHP709.4 billion (18.9 percent), debt burden with PHP414.1 billion (11 percent), and defense with PHP188.2 billion (5 percent).

The education sector remains the top recipient with a total budget of PHP659.

3 billion, followed by the departments of public works and highways with PHP555.7 billion; interior and local government (PHP225.6 billion); defense (PHP183.4 billion); social welfare (PHP173.3 billion); health (PHP141.4 billion); transportation (PHP76.1 billion); agriculture (PHP49.8 billion); judiciary (PHP37.3 billion); and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PHP32.3 billion).