THE House of Representatives will aim to approve the proposed P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget before the first recess of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress in October, Speaker Ferdinand
Martin G. Romualdez said.
Speaker Romualdez, the leader of the 312-member House of Representatives, told reporters in a press conference late Saturday afternoon that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. plans to submit to Congress his budget proposal immediately after his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) this Monday.
“Pag nangyari po ‘yan, sigurado tatapusin natin ‘yung budget before our October break. We average five weeks of solid work on budget deliberations, consideration, review, and approval through third
reading. So we are confident with the processes and protocols and procedures that we have na matatapos natin ang ating national 2024 budget. That is the most important piece of legislation,” Speaker Romualdez, the administration stalwart and President of the dominant Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), said Romualdez.
He said the budget “aims to sustain the country’s economic growth, create more income and job opportunities for the people and improve their quality of life through the timely delivery of basic social
service like education, health care and infrastructure.”
The highest ranking House leader pointed out that during the deliberation on next year’s spending program, the House would look into how the annual budget is being used and how laws, particularly
the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, are being implemented.
“The emancipation law lifted the debt burden of our farmers. In other words na-exempt na ang ating mga magsasaka dito sa kanilang mga utang sa acquisition ng lupa nila. We think that is one of the cornerstones of our President’s legislative agenda. He promised this last year, hindi lang na-promise nagawa, napirmahan na,” the House leader stressed.
“So tayo po sa Kongreso, babantayan din natin na maayos at maaga ang implementasyon para yung mga magsasaka maging productive para tutulong din sila sa ating hangarin na ‘yung ibaba natin ‘yung presyo ng bilihin gaya ng bigas, asukal at gulay. Kaya excited po tayo kasi pinagtrabahuhan natin ‘to,” he added.
He said the nation and every Filipino household should have sufficient rice supply so that no one gets hungry.
That is the primary goal of President Marcos as secretary of agriculture, he said.
“Yung commitment niya, ‘yan ang isa sa number one accomplishment. At sa totoo lang, bilang isang congressman kung ‘yun lang ang panukalang batas na maipasa natin, proud na proud na ko to have been part of the 19th Congress who have passed a very, very important measure that means so much to us as Filipinos because it‘s a life-long dream of every farmer,” he said.
“Kaya itong panaginip ng mga magsasaka, panaginip ng ating mamamayan ay natupad na. So we will make sure that the implementation is immediate and efficient so that the benefits of this law will be felt
in every household,” he said.
He said the House will be able to expeditiously scrutinize, deliberate and pass a national budget through a transparent process.
“Like last year, we will get the widest consensus on our spending plan among our members. Its approval is very crucial in maintaining stability and facilitating the seamless implementation of government
programs and projects. It has significant implications for the country’s progress and development,” the House leader added.
He assured the nation that the House would make sure that “every centavo of the national budget will be spent wisely by ensuring that spending will contribute to economic and national development.”
“We will be setting clear priorities and making informed decisions that would further promote sustainable growth aimed at uplifting the lives of Filipino people, enhancing public services, and making our economy strong and more agile,” he said.
“The House of the People will effectively respond to the needs of the people to address the continued impact of the health crisis, create more jobs, and ensure food security,” he said.
He emphasized that in partnership with the Senate and the President, the House will continue the Build Better More program and create more livelihood opportunities.
Speaker Romualdez urged government agencies to complete the implementation of projects, programs and activities funded under the annual national budget on time.
“Prompt project and program delivery is critical to achieving our goal of creating more income and livelihood opportunities for our people and their enjoyment of social services and infrastructure. There
should be no implementation delay,” he said.
The proposed national budget for next year is P500 billion higher than this year’s P5.268-trillion spending program.
Under the Constitution, the President is given 30 days to submit his budget proposal to Congress.
