Lower House approves on third and final reading the proposed P5.768T budget for 2024
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00:00 Priority number one in the legislative agenda, check.
00:04 True to his vow, House Speaker Martin Romualdus, with almost full backing of his peers,
00:09 passed on third and final reading the General Appropriations Act,
00:13 or proposed 2024 national budget that ensures government operations running smoothly without a snag beginning next year.
00:21 And the Speaker couldn't have been any prouder, as Orion Lasigas reports.
00:28 House Bill number 8980, the 2024 General Appropriations Bill, is approved on third and final reading.
00:38 After extensive deliberations and negotiations, the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved,
00:45 on the third and final reading, the 5.768 trillion national budget for next year.
00:50 296 lawmakers voted yes, three negatives, and zero abstentions.
00:56 The lower house will now constitute a small committee to assemble and finalize individual amendments,
01:01 with a deadline set for September 29.
01:04 House Speaker Martin Romualdus said,
01:06 "Timely approval of the proposed budget is not only a response to the constitutional role of the Chamber,
01:12 but also a dedication to serve the Filipinos with transparency and accountability."
01:17 We adjourn today's session with heartfelt appreciation and profound gratitude for successfully accomplishing our sworn duty
01:28 to craft and enable noteworthy laws.
01:31 During the first period of the second regular session,
01:36 the pillars of a strong nation rest in our capable hands,
01:40 and each of us deserves no less than an earnest acknowledgement for completing the task.
01:46 On the other hand, Gabriela Rep. Arlen Brosas explained her no vote.
01:51 She said, "There was no clear discussion on the amendments,
01:55 and the government agencies that had been selectively provided huge funds are prone to kickbacks,
02:01 especially infrastructure projects."
02:03 Mr. Speaker, as the female sector is a key player in the Congress,
02:08 the budget for confidential funds is not acceptable, while our programs for women and children,
02:18 such as the Council for the Welfare of Children, Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council,
02:23 National Authority of Child Care, Supplementary Feeding Program,
02:27 Comprehensive Project for Street Children, Street Families and IPs, and many more.
02:32 Although voted yes, Almay Rep. Edsel Agman held back his reservations
02:37 for 2024 GAB, including the relocation of controversial funds
02:42 to the sectors of education, health and social services.
02:46 I vote yes with the following reservations.
02:51 One, remove the confidential and intelligence funds
02:57 from agencies whose respective principal mandates
03:02 have no affinity or nexus to these secret funds.
03:08 Two, reallocate the confidential and intelligence funds
03:13 to education, health and other social services.
03:18 The objective of the proposed budget for the next year
03:21 is to further speed up the country's recovery from the pandemic.
03:25 Social services such as health, education, culture and manpower development,
03:30 as well as social security, welfare and employment,
03:34 will receive a large allocation that will reach 2.183 trillion or 37.9 percent.
03:41 The education sector has one of the biggest allocations in the amount of P924.7 billion
03:48 that will be used in universal access to quality tertiary education program,
03:53 textbook and feeding programs.
03:55 I believe that not only will this not only help our budget for the betterment
04:02 and well-being of Filipinos,
04:04 but it will also help us to continue our recovery towards a better future.
04:12 Ryan Lisigas, for The Nation.