THE SENATE on Tuesday approved its version of the federal government’s proposed P6.352-trillion national budget next yr, with senators prioritizing funding for the Education, Health and Defense departments.
By a vote of 17 for, none against, and one abstaining, senators approved their bill outlining the federal government’s spending plan for 2025, the core of which is House Bill No. 10800. All budget proposals by law originate with the House.
Senator and Finance Committee Chairperson Mary Grace Natividad S. Poe-Llamanzares said the spending priorities included education, health, and livelihood programs.
At Tuesday’s plenary session, Senators proposed no amendments to the budget bill, after having earlier within the day passed it on second reading.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. had certified the proposed 2025 national budget as urgent, which allowed Congress to put off the three-day interval between bill readings.
In her speech before the bill’s approval late Tuesday, Ms. Poe said the Senate’s budget bill increased the funding for Health department’s cancer control and assistance program, and direct funding to the University of the Philippines Genome Center to conduct studies on disease outbreaks. She didn’t specify the quantity added.
The spending plan also includes additional funding for mobile laboratories, hospital equipment, ambulances, and the development of hospitals.
Within the Senate committee report on the budget bill, the Department of Health and its agencies are to receive an allocation of P277.996 billion, up 28% hike from the P217.388 billion proposed by the Budget department.
Senators voted for more funding without cost higher teaching programs at state universities and colleges in addition to subsidies for school students from low-income households. The spending plan also includes funding for smart TVs in public school classrooms next yr.
“That is to satisfy education’s role as the good equalizer for all to make sure our scholars are those that are truly in need,” she said.
Senators also agreed to set engineering standards and a cap on overhead expenses in constructing recent classrooms, which was set at 0.5% of construction cost.
Last yr, the Education department failed to satisfy its goal of constructing 6,379 classrooms, completing only 3,600.
The Department of Education (DepEd) was allotted P751.68 billion next yr, while state colleges and universities were granted P117.97 billion, in accordance with the Senate Finance committee report on the budget bill.
Senators also agreed to lift the monthly pension for poor senior citizen beneficiaries to P1,000 per thirty days from P500.
Ms. Poe said the spending plan will include increased funding for post-harvest facilities and the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF lending program), which supports fisheries and farm production.
The proposed P6.325-trillion budget, as approved by the Senate finance committee, earmarked P255.99 billion for the Department of National Defense.
The committee report also features a P933.14-billion budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways, including P320 billion for flood control projects.
Ms. Poe’s office didn’t immediately reply to a request for a 3rd reading copy and breakdown of the Senate’s budget bill.
The House approved the 2025 general appropriations bill in September. It was transmitted to the Senate on Oct. 25.
Legislators are set to harmonize each chambers’ versions of the budget in Bicameral Conference Committee before ratifying it and submitting it to the Palace for the President’s signature. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
