By: Thea Divina
Members of the Department of Budget and Management holding the 2023 National Budget Request, the largest of its kind. Photo from the Department of Budget and Management.
The 2023 Philippine National Budget is set at ?5.268 trillion, as proposed and submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to Congress on Monday, August 22, 2022.
The projected budget for the next fiscal year is nearly 5% higher than the law approved ?5.024 trillion in 2022, making it the government’s current highest spending proposal.
Next year’s spending plan is devoted to the identified priority sectors of education, infrastructure development, health, agriculture, and social welfare, as well as the government’s green governance for sustainable development.
Education
Mandated as the highest budgetary priority by the Constitution, the education sector, including the Department of Education (DepEd), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is set, with a budget proposal of ?852.8 billion.
DepEd, headed by Vice President Sara-Duterte Carpio, will be funded with ?710.6 billion.
Infrastructure Development
Infrastructure programs involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) are marked with a total of ?1.196 trillion budget allocations.
DPWH will receive a portion of ?718.4 billion, while DOTr will have a ?167.1 billion budget.
The Marcos Administration aims to apply the proposed infrastructure budget to its “Build, Better, More” goal, which focuses on projects such as the Metro Manila Subway Phase 1, North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), LRT1 Cavite Extension, regional airports, farm-to-market roads.
Health
?296.3 billion is allotted for the increased budget and recovery of the health sector from the two years of intense lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The total amount covers the budget provisions for the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC), and the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
?29 billion will be provided for purchasing drugs, medicine, and vaccines; ?19 billion for the salary and benefits of health care workers; ?23 billion for acquiring medical equipment and improvements to various health facilities.
Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture (DA), headed by President Marcos Jr., is to have a proposed amount of ?184.1 billion, which includes the ?29.5 billion set for irrigation services.
The proposed amount is regarded to be in line with the President’s directive to prioritize the growth and development of the agricultural sector as well in preparation for the anticipated global food crisis and the long-term goal of food sufficiency.
Social Welfare
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will have a proposed budget of ?197 billion, which covers the financial support for social programs, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino, and Senior Citizen Pension, among others.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will have a ?26.2 billion budget, with ?18.4 billion of its portion to be allotted for the Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program.
Green Governance
?453.1 billion is for climate change expenditures concerning food security, water sufficiency, ecosystem and environmental stability, and human security.
Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense (DND) is set with ?240.7 billion and the National Disaster Risk Reduction with ?31 billion.
With the DBM’s priority outline, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman regards the 2023 proposed national budget as “proactive and resilient”.
“Our budget for FY 2023 is proactive and resilient. It is designed to withstand future risks, challenges and shocks. Filipinos have bravely faced disasters and crises in recent years and notwithstanding the uncertainties, we have witnessed the strength of our economy and the resilience of our countrymen as seen by the country’s economic expansion,” Pangandaman said.
The ?5.268-trillion 2023 budget proposal is expected to be approved by Congress in October and be signed into law by the president before 2022 ends.