2023 nat’l budget
IT is certainly reassuring to know that the leadership of the House of Representatives is committed to ensure that every centavo of the proposed 2023 national budget will be spent “wisely.”
Under the 1987 Phili[ppine Constitution, all appropriation, revenue and tariff bills shall originate exclusively in the Lower Chamber of Congress, which is now headed by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez.
However, the 24-member Senate may propose or concur with amendments.
Last Monday, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman submitted to the House of Representatives next year’s P5.268-trillion proposed national budget, nearly a third of which will be used to pay our debts.
And Speaker Romualdez, a first cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., was quick to assure the Filipino people that the budget process would be transparent.
“This will be a product of the entire House of Representatives where the majority will listen to the minority bloc’s concerns and, of course, we also be attuned to their needs,” he said.
Next year’s budget is seen to save lives, protect communities and make the economy, devastated by the paralyzing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, strong and more agile.
Through the record budget, the government hopes to reinvigorate job creation and reduce poverty in the country, where majority of the people still live below the poverty line.
Certainly, we share the view of various quarters that the harsh reality is that the Filipino people are burdened by the skyrocketing prices of oil, food and other essential commodities.
Talaga!
