P5T for 2022: PH’s biggest ever budget proposal submitted to House

By Billy Begas

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday submitted to the House of Representatives the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2022 amounting to P5.024 trillion.

Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez received the copy of the NEP from officials of DBM.

“This officially signals the start of the budget season in Congress or the legislative process of evaluation, debate and amendment which we hope could lead to the timely and decisive passage of the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA),” Velasco said.

As the coronavirus pandemic drags on and with no end in sight, Velasco said it is incumbent upon Congress to swiftly pass a national budget that will not only serve as an instrument for development, but also as a powerful tool to decisively defeat COVID-19 and rebuild people’s lives and livelihoods.

Romualdez also expressed support to the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to mainstream health in the budget priorities.

“Given this track, I share the optimism that the P5.024-trillion proposed budget for 2022 will pave the way to gain back the health and strength of our people as well as the vigor of our economy,” Romualdez added.

Romualdez said the proposed budget includes P30 billion for the purchase of drugs, medicines, vaccines, and medical and dental supplies for distribution and another P3.8 billion for the emergency hiring of 6,810 COVID-19 Human Resources for Health (HRH).

The P5.024 trillion budget for next year is 11.5% higher than this year’s P4.5 trillion budget.

Of the amount P1.456 trillion or 29% will go to Personnel Services expenditures including the implementation of the third tranche of the Salary Standardization law V and the requirement for 2018 Military and Uniformed Personnel pension arrears.

Capital Outlays was pegged at P939.8 billion while Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures amounts to P777.9 billion.

Debt burden amounts to P541.3 billion, which is 10.8% of the NEP. This is lower by 3.4% year-on-year.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)