House approves P5-trillion national budget for 2022
The House of Representatives approved on Thursday evening the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022, which is aimed at driving the economy’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
In a vote of 238-6 with no abstentions, congressmen on Thursday evening approved House Bill 10153 or the 2022 General Appropriations Act on third and final reading before adjourning for a month-long break to allow for the filing of certificates of candidacy for next year’s elections.
The proposed spending plan, which is 11.5% more than this year’s budget and the highest on record, is the last under President Rodrigo R. Duterte, whose term ends in June 2022. Mr. Duterte on Wednesday certified it as urgent, allowing the legislators to approve the measure on second and third reading on the same day.
“This fiscally responsible budget offers a blueprint to help the country recover fully and effectively from the devastating effects of the pandemic and chart a better path forward,” Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco said in a statement.
The Philippine economy this year has struggled to recover due to the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant and continued lockdowns. The government expects the economy to grow by 4-5% this year, and by 7-9% in 2022.
The spending plan was approved by the House with little opposition, but may face rough sailing in the Senate, which is already conducting budget hearings. Senators are investigating allegations that the government’s pandemic funds have been misused.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate said in his turno de contra speech that the proposed budget is “not responsive” to the needs of Filipinos who are facing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The proposed 2022 National Budget clearly does not address the country’s needs in the midst of the pandemic, but rather it screams for politicking… and a cling to power,” he said.
Under the budget, P1.18 trillion will go to infrastructure, 15% higher than the P1.019 trillion allotted this year. The government also allocated P80 billion to support the National Health Insurance Program, and P17 billion for hiring of health workers.
“There is no item in the National Expenditure Program for the procurement of regular vaccines. No allocation for medicines and the P45 billion intended for booster shots is listed under the unprogrammed funds. Definitely, these will put our pandemic response program in a very uncertain state,” House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen S. Paduano said in his turno en contra.
The government had included P45.4 billion under unprogrammed appropriations to cover the COVID-19 booster shots for around 93 million Filipinos who are expected to have been fully vaccinated by next year.
Lawmakers from the progressive Makabayan bloc criticized the House’s swift approval of the budget, with all of its members voting no.
“What’s the use of (conducting) hearings if the deliberations are being rushed with no time for amendments? We are being deprived of the opportunity to fight for a budget for health, social assistance, (and a) safe return to (face-to-face) classes,” Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago said in a tweet.
The House of Representatives has formed a small committee to consolidate all the proposed amendments for the GAA to the bicameral conference committee.
The members include House Appropriations Committee Chair ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric G. Yap, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo, and Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman.
The deadline for submission of proposed amendments will be on Oct. 5. — Russell Louis C. Ku
