Congress worked hard to ensure that the P5.268 trillion national budget for 2023 is signed within the year. While there were disagreements on some issues during the bicameral conference committee meetings, both panels found common ground in the need to ensure that assistance is given to those who require it the most and to keep the momentum going in the country’s move towards economic recovery.
Sa paglagda ng 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) ngayong araw, makakasiguro ang ating mga kababayan na tuloy-tuloy ang paghatid ng serbisyo ng gobyerno pagpasok ng unang araw ng bagong taon. Kasama na dito ang pagbibigay ng tinatawag natin na “targeted ayuda” kung saan ang tulong ay direktang ihahatid sa mga sektor na pinaka apektado ng pandemya. Kabilang dito ang pagpapatuloy ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); medical assistance para sa mga mahihirap; ang libreng sakay program; mga scholarships para sa mga estudyante; tulong para sa mga tsuper at operator at pati na din sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda para pangkarga ng langis; at ang pagtaas ng pension ng mga mahihirap nating mga senior citizens.
Siniguro din natin na patuloy na mabibigyan ng benepisyo at allowances ang ating mga health frontliners na walang tigil sa kanilang serbisyo at sakripisyo para masiguro na lahat ng tinatamaan ng sakit ay mabibigyan ng agarang lunas.
Inaasahan din natin na matutugunan ng pamahalaan ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin, partikular na ang gulay, manok at baboy. Malaking bahagi ng 2023 GAA, mahigit P170 billion, ay nakatugon sa sektor ng agrikultura kung saan ang ating Pangulo mismo ang personal na nakatutok.
In deliberating on the 2023 GAA, Congress was well aware of the need for the government to make productive investments in human and physical capital in order to empower the people, generate revenues, and address the most pressing needs of our kababayans.
As stated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., this budget is anchored on an agenda for prosperity. We are no longer at a point where we are catching up and reacting to the developments just like the past two years. Now we can lay the foundation for the country to build on towards sustaining economic growth and providing more opportunities for our people.
We thank our leadership in the Senate led by Senate President Migz Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, the House panel led by Rep. Zaldy Co, and our Finance Committee vice chairpersons Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Bato Dela Rosa, Win Gatchalian, Bong Go, Risa Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Francis Tolentino, Mark Villar, and JV Ejercito; and Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Lito Lapid, Robin Padilla, Bong Revilla and Raffy Tulfo for all their contributions and for working to make sure that the 2023 budget is approved without delay.
