For the first time in the Philippines’ history of budget legislation, the P907.6-billion national budget for 2005 was approved and signed without Presidential veto.
Acting Budget Secretary Mario Relampagos recognized “the swift passage of the budget and the partnership that Congress has extended to the Executive Branch to pass this year’s budget as proposed by the President,” adding that the unity that members of Congress displayed, by setting aside political differences in pursuit of national interest, is very commendable. She said that earlier, the Senate approved the House version of the 2005 budget
en toto, and “during the budget signing in Malacañang, President Arroyo did the same without exercising her constitutional right to veto any of its provisions.”
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“This budget accord between our Executive and Legislative branches [proves] that we are all one and committed in putting our fiscal house in order. Given our nation’s situation, we really do need a fresh budget, not a reenacted one, to cope with the demands of the present time,” Secretary Relampagos added.
This year’s budget embodies President Arroyo’s commitment to reform and responsible development. It puts teeth to PGMA’s 10-Point Agenda: job creation, balancing the budget, provision of water and electricity nationwide, and education for all, among others.
According to Secretary Relampagos, education is a top priority in the agenda. In fact, the Education Department with P111 billion has the largest allocation among other departments/agencies. Its budget this year increased by as much as P 2.1 billion over the 2004 figure.
Relampagos said the education budget will be used to realize the government’s intent of accessible and quality education by providing for 10,000 additional teachers to help reduce the shortage of teachers by 30 percent and building 7,500 classrooms in those areas experiencing acute classroom shortage, those whose student-classroom ratio is 60:1 or worse, or those without any classroom at all.
“We have apportioned some P153 million to increase textbook allocation. Such move would help us maintain a 1:1 book-to-student ratio per subject per grade/year level. Moreover, we have also infused an increased amount of P1.8 billion for the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) to benefit 457,389 grantees in 2005,” the acting Budget Chief said.
A total of P928.04 million is also set aside to provide scholarships to 58,085 students in tertiary and vocational education.
Another major pro-poor agenda embodied in the 2005 budget is the provision of affordable but high-quality drugs and medicines. The government has reduced the prices of medicines by as much as 50 percent and is making them available in 72 hospitals retained under the Department of Health, several local government units’ hospitals and 5,000 more Botika sa Barangay.
Some P214 million is provided for the DOH Murang Gamot Project to run a total of 10,000 Botika sa Barangay.
Premium subsidy for indigents under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIC) has also been increased this year to P750 million from P500 million in 2004.
Recognizing the role of transportation networks in dispersing progress to the countryside, Secretary Relampagos disclosed that some P56.6 billion is provided for the total infrastructure projects of the national government.
Infrastructure programs and projects include P29.4 billion for roads and bridges, notably Ilocos-Cordillera Road, the Halsema Highway, the Davao-Agusan Road, and the Trans-Panau Highway, including the completion of ongoing circumferential roads. The Nautical Highway which connects Mindanao to Luzon through Visayas and promote agribusiness in all three regions is also expected to be completed. Some P84 million is also approved for the construction of ports and lighthouses while P304 million is provided for the Metro Manila Strategic Mass Rail Transit Development (line 2).
To underscore the importance of science and technology and ICT in job creation and global competitiveness, some P2.5 billion has been allocated to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and another P1 billion has been set aside for the E-Government Fund.
Secretary Relampagos also underscored the budget of the Ombudsman, which has increased by P140 million, and that of other anti-corruption agencies, including members of the criminal justice system in developing integrity in public sector and contributing to good governance. He assured the public that this year there will be more police visibility with the construction of 22 more police stations. –PIA-CAR