‘Swift budget spending key to economic rebound’

MANILA, Philippines — The government will need to speed up its spending of the P4.5-trillion national budget next year to expedite the nation’s economic recovery from the pandemic, an economist in Congress said yesterday.

“The key to economic recovery in 2021 will be quick and effective government spending to support economic activity. The items appropriated in the budget will have to be completed as fast as possible,” said Albay Rep. Joey Salceda.

The chairman of the House ways and means committee said this strategy is crucial for the economy to rebound from recession caused by lockdowns.

Congress, for its part, would have to exercise its oversight power on the utilization of the budget, he said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for example, has P176.9 billion to strengthen its social welfare and development programs in 2021.

Irene Dumlao, officer-in-charge director of the DSWD Social Marketing Service, said a lion’s share of its budget – P113.8 billion – is for its flagship Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

It also includes the DSWD’s other cash grant programs – the School Feeding Program and the Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services or Kalahi CIDSS National Community Driven Development Program.

Meanwhile, the National Economic and Development Authority said strategies in response to the pandemic may have to be recalibrated in response to the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant.

The Philippines has banned the entry of travelers from 19 countries so far to curb the spread of the more contagious coronavirus variant.m – Rainier Allan Ronda, Czeriza Valencia