Senate approves P5.268 trillion budget for 2023

MANILA, Philippines — With some of the controversial confidential and intelligence funds realigned, the Senate approved yesterday on third and final reading the P5.268-trillion budget for 2023, the first spending program of the Marcos administration designed to address the people’s needs post-pandemic.

Voting 21-0 with no abstentions, senators approved the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading after marathon hearings at the committee level and interpellations in the plenary.

The bicameral conference committee meetings will commence on Friday, where the members of the Senate and House of Representatives will work to come up with a reconciled version of the GAB.

Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, led members of the Senate bicam panel.

He was joined by Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Ronald dela Rosa, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Risa Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Francis Tolentino, Mark Villar, JV Ejercito, Alan Cayetano, Chiz Escudero and Jinggoy Estrada.

Angara described the 2023 budget measure as one that addresses the needs of the people post-pandemic, supports the goal of ensuring food security, reviving education and preparing the country for the impacts of climate change.

“Under the 2023 budget, there will still be an aid for our kababayans, but it will not be like the previous aid where almost everyone was given money. Now, the aid will be given to selected sectors and it is based on the severity of the need and the effect of the pandemic on them,” he said.

Angara said the programs include the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Protective Services to Individuals in Crisis Situations, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program and the Sustainable Livelihood Program.

He said the Senate ensured that the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health would continue to be supported and that the different DOH-operated hospitals, including the National Children’s Hospital, would receive additional funding.

While COVID-19 cases in the country are on decline, Angara said the 2023 budget will ensure that the government would still be able to respond to the continuing threats of the pandemic and that the health system is strengthened.

DepEd budget

Sen. Risa Hontiveros made a motion to realign the P100-million budget earlier realigned from the confidential fund of the Department of Education to the Office of the Vice President maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) then back to DepEd MOOE, in particular DepEd’s healthy learners’ institution program found in the “Support to Schools and Learners Program.”

Angara accepted the motion, to which Hontiveros replied, “I am so happily surprised. Earlier I thought that it might not be accepted, but if it is accepted, thank you.”

Hontiveros also pushed the remaining P50 million of the confidential fund of the DepEd, also in support of their healthy learners’ institution program, transfer to augment the MOOE of the support to schools and learners of the DepEd. But Angara rejected the motion.

Funding was also provided to pave the way for the establishment of specialty hospitals in the different regions of the country.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. will receive a significant amount to support its Benefit Package Improvement under the Universal Health Care Law.

“This fund can be used to expand coverage for dialysis, mental health outpatient services, z-benefit packages, severe acute malnutrition and other outpatient benefits such as free consultations, free lab tests and diagnostic services, medicine and emergency medical services,” Angara said.

For the members of the public transport sector, Angara said fuel vouchers will continue to be provided to the operators and drivers.

On the other hand, he said farmers and fisherfolk will still receive fuel assistance to help them cope with the rising prices of fuel.