Senate approves P3.7-T national budget

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate approved last night the proposed P3.7-trillion national budget for 2018 that saw last-minute amendments for new funding requirements, including an increase in the base pay for uniformed personnel.

Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the finance committee, described the proposed expenditure program for next year as a “compassionate budget that addresses the needs of the people” with its significant allocations for social protection.

Some P89 billion was allocated for the conditional cash transfer program for 4.4 million beneficiaries.

To fund the Free College Education Law, the Senate allocated P51 billion plus P10 million for each of the country’s 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs) to improve their facilities.

A total of P327 million from the budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology was appropriated for free WiFi for all SUCs, said Legarda.

The chamber also earmarked an additional P6.5 billion for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s budget was given an additional P3 billion for next year for the repair, rehabilitation and construction of DSWD centers nationwide.

Some P10 billion was allocated for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, which was destroyed in the fierce five-month battle between government forces and the IS-linked Maute group that ended last month.

Legarda said the chamber was willing to allocate more funds for Marawi if Malacañang asked for it, adding the Senate also made sure security agencies had their intelligence funds as requested to help in fighting terrorism, but pointed out they “should make sure they make good use” of such funds.

Among the significant amendments to the proposed budget was the allocation of P64 billion to fund the increase in the base pay for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and other uniformed services after President Duterte pushed for it in both chambers of Congress last week.

The Senate removed the P900-million allocation for the PNP’s anti-drug campaign or “Oplan Tokhang” and the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s P500-million anti-crime program “Masa-Masid.”