MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III signed the Philippine national budget on time for the sixth consecutive year as he approved the P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 on Tuesday morning.
Aquino signed the Republic Act 10717 or the General Appropriations Act at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace, noting that this was the sixth time the national budget was passed 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. Ibig pong sabihin, mula nang maupo tayo hanggang sa huling yugto ng ating termino, hindi tayo sumablay sa pagpapasa ng ating budget on-time. Kaya naman sa lahat ng nanguna at nakibahagi sa pagbuo ng budget na ito, isang taos-pusong pasasalamat po sa inyong lahat,” Aquino said.
Aquino said the current budget is different from the budgets passed before as the previous administration sometimes delay its passage and cited that previous national budget were re-enacted.
“Sa ilalim ng ating sinundan, laging reenacted ang bahagi o kabuuan ng Pambansang Budget. Noong 2007, halimbawa, halos Abril na ito naaprubahan. Di po ba makatwiran na dahil na-reenact ang budget, tanggalin na rin sa budget ang pondo para sa mga buwan na nakalipas at nagastusan na? Pero ang masahol: Ang items na nagastusan na, gaya ng pasahod, Maintenance and other Operating Expenses, at iba pa sa nakalipas na tatlong buwan, ay nasa budget pa rin. Bakit po nandoon pa rin ang mga items na bayad na? Saan naman kaya napunta ang mga sobrang ipinagkaloob?” Aquino said in his speech.
The president said they changed the system of budget allotment and focused on the speedy passage of the budget to ensure that the programs and projects will also be carried out on time.
“Itinigil po natin ang kalakarang ito. Tinanggal natin ang mga mekanismong pinadali ang pagsasamantala at pagwawaldas sa kaban ng bayan. Isinulong po natin ang tamang proseso. Alam din natin: Kapag late naipasa ang budget, nauudlot ang dating ng serbisyo, at napapatagal ang pagdurusa ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Then 2016 national budget is higher by 15.2 percent or P396 billion than the P2.606-trillion 2014 national budget.
The Department of Education will receive the highest portion of the budget with P436.5 billion funds while the government also allotted P62.7 billion for the Social and Welfare Development’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program answering poverty, hunger and homeless woes. The third highest funded agency is the Department of Public Works and Highways which will receive P400.4 billion for the improvement of infrastructure.
Aquino noted that the budget for 2016 addresses the country and Filipino’s needs.
“Tunay po: Naglalaan tayo ng pondo sa kung saan may pangangailangan. Ang maganda: Naghahatid tayo ng agarang benepisyo nang walang kaakibat na pabigat sa Pilipino. Sa ating panunungkulan, wala tayong idinagdag na bagong buwis, maliban sa Sin Tax Reform,” Aquino said.
During the signing of the 2016 national budget, over 200 government officials including the members of the Cabinet, House of Representatives and Senate were present to witness the ceremony. Aquino thanked them for taking part in the budget appropriation.
“Hindi nga po magiging posible ang pagdiriwang natin ngayon kung wala ang mga indibidwal at institusyong nagsikap na buuin ang Pambansang Budget sa 2016. Nagpapasalamat tayo, sa lahat ng bumubuo sa Department of Budget and Management, sa pangunguna ni Secretary Butch Abad. Masusi ninyong sinuri ang bawat pahina at detalye ng librong ito, at sinigurong walang mawawaldas ni isang kusing,” Aquino said.
“Nagpapasalamat din po tayo sa pakikiisa ng ating Kongreso—sa pamumuno nina Senate President Frank Drilon at House Speaker Sonny Belmonte; [palakpakan] Senate Finance Committee Chair Loren Legarda, ang butihing Vice Chair na si Cynthia Villar, House Appropriations Committee Chair Sid Ungab, at House Majority Floor Leader Boyet Gonzales [palakpakan]—para po sa ibinuhos ninyong panahon at dedikasyon upang maipasa ang Budget ng Bayan para sa 2016.” he added.