Noy, Cabinet scrutinize details in budget meeting

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino and members of his Cabinet spent another grueling day discussing the budget for 2014.

As of 8:15 last night, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said the meeting at the Palace that began at 10 a.m. was ongoing.

He said the meeting was taking so long because they wanted to be certain of the budget’s every detail.

“We want to make sure that the money is being spent properly. This kind of scrutiny is what has allowed us to squeeze maximum value from taxpayers’ money and enhance our fiscal position,” Carandang said in a text message.

Last Monday, Aquino and the Cabinet also spent almost 10 hours tackling the budget.

But the President had a lot of questions and the different departments and agencies were given time to address Aquino’s concerns in another meeting yesterday.

Tourism, agri projects priorities

Tourism and agricultural-related infrastructure projects will be a priority of the government next year, according to Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson.

Singson was elated by reports that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is proposing a P403-billion budget allocation for infrastructure projects for 2014.

The DBM said the 2014 budget allocation for infrastructure is equivalent to five percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

It is also proposing P607 billion for infrastructure spending in year 2015 and P834 billion in 2016.

Singson expressed belief that the country needs to boost expenditures for infrastructure projects by next year, particularly in the tourism and agriculture sectors, which are vital components in the country’s development. – Aurea Calica, Evelyn Macairan