Sen. Imee defends DSWD’s ’24 budget
SEN. Imee Marcos Thursday defended the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Marcos noted the agency’s budget of P209.668 billion for 2024, which is P10.411 billion higher than this year.
The House of Representatives, under the General Appropriations Bill, increased DSWD’s budget to P245.130 billion, or P35.462 billion higher under the 2024 National Expenditure Program, Marcos said.
However, the Senate reduced the agency’s budget to P244.416 billion, or a net reduction of P714.166 million.
“So there’s a discrepancy, as is clearly seen, between the NEP, the House of Representatives version, as well as the Senate version,” Marcos stressed.
She explained the reduction involves the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) because some beneficiaries have already graduated.
Also involved is the sustainable livelihood program (SLP) because, according to Marcos, it has already been encompassed by other projects.
For her part, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros urged an efficient enforcement of the Sagip Saka Law together with the food stamp program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help local farmers, fishermen and less privileged Filipino families.
Hontiveros said the optimal use of the department’s resources will be a great help for the farmers and fishermen while implementing its new program.
Hontiveros cited the DSWD regional office in Region IX that initiated an effort to buy local products from farmers and fishermen for their feeding program in the region.
“I asked the DSWD secretary if this program can be replicated in other DSWD regional offices to procure (local products) for the food stamp program and he was very open, saying they will explore it.
That would be good news for our farmers and fishermen to join in this kind of government program,” Hontiveros said.
