DBM to submit P5.7 trillion 2024 national budget to House

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management will submit today the national government’s proposed P5.7-trillion national budget for 2024 to the House of Representatives, which is expected to start budget deliberations next week.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman will turn over to Speaker Martin Romualdez the proposed National Expenditure Program that details the expenses of all government agencies – from the executive, legislative and the judiciary – for fiscal year 2024.

Pangandaman will conduct a presentation where “salient features” will be highlighted, and a press briefing will be held afterwards.

The budget usually takes a little more time after the President delivers his annual State of the Nation Address, but next year’s spending plan was submitted earlier than usual, in light of the incoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this Oct. 30.

Budget hearings usually start in September and are done before Congress takes its break in October during the All Souls and All Saints Day observance.

Congress – the Senate and the House – is set to adjourn sessions on Sept. 30 and will resume deliberations on Nov. 5.

“Once (the budget submission) happens, then we will finish it before our October break. We average five weeks of solid work on budget deliberations, consideration, review and approval through third reading,” Romualdez told reporters in a chance interview.

“So we are confident with the processes and protocols and procedures that we have that we can finish deliberating on our national 2024 budget. That is the most important piece of legislation,” he added.

The budget “aims to sustain the country’s economic growth, create more income and job opportunities for the people and improve their quality of life through the timely delivery of basic social service like education, health care and infrastructure,” Romualdez said.