Romero

P5.7B budget proposed for judiciary

September 1, 2022 Jester P. Manalastas 412 views

THE entire Judiciary is getting additional P5.7 billion budget for 2023.

This was according to 1PACMAN Rep. Michael “Mikee” Romero, who expressed confidence that the House of Representatives will approve its budget that is intended to improve the country’s justice system.

The huge increase is included in the proposed P5.268-trillion 2023 “Agenda for Recovery” national budget President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. submitted to Congress last August 22.

The House committee on appropriations led by Senior Vice Chairperson and Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo has started deliberating on the proposed 2023 national budget.

“The additional funds are in the President’s proposal. I have no doubt that the House will support the adjustment, which we hope would allow the judiciary to meet its requirements for a quicker disposition of cases and faster dispensation of justice,” Romero said.

The Judiciary is composed of rhe Supreme Court, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals (CA), Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), Regional Trial Courts (RTCs), and lower courts.

Romero said total new appropriations for the Supreme Court, CA, CTA, PET, RTCs, and lower courts next year will total P51.432 billion, P5.7 billion or 12.46 percent higher than this year’s P45.735 billion allocated in the P5.024-trillion 2022 national budget.

In the proposed national budget, the Supreme Court, RTCs and lower courts, which are lumped together, are allocated “new appropriations” amounting to P41.923 billion, P2.203 billion more than this year’s P39.720 billion.

The Sandiganbayan, CA, CTA, and Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) have their own separate funding allocations.

New funds for the Sandigan will go up by P482 million, from P1.593 billion this year to P2.074 billion next year.

Among courts, the CA will receive the highest increase of P2.988 billion, with its outlay jumping from P3.504 billion this year to P6.492 billion in 2023.

The adjustment of more than P2 billion in the CA’s capital outlay, from P532.3 million this year to P2.678 billion in 2023, largely accounts for the huge increase in its budget.

The PET, which is the Supreme Court itself, will get P167.3 million next year, up from this year’s P157.3 million.

“It’s the largest budget increase for the judiciary in recent years,” he said.

He added that the judicial branch had P44.109 billion last year and P40.163 billion in 2020.