FOR the fifth year in a row, the national budget has been enacted on time, ensuring a public-spending plan for next year that allows for inclusive development.
Last week President Aquino signed the P2.606-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2015. The amount is 15.1 percent higher than the 2014 budget.
The 2015 GAA reflects the Aquino administration’s emphasis on priority programs, including those on antipoverty efforts, economic growth, governance reform, and post-disaster rehabilitation and climate change.
The on-time enactment of the GAA ensures the “swift delivery of public goods and services,” Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said.
For the second year in a row, the GAA-as-release-document scheme is also implemented, whereby appropriations are considered released to the agencies upon the enactment of the budget.
This is also the second year of performance-informed budgeting, where “an agency’s budget for the entire fiscal year is expected to support the accomplishment of specific targets, as outlined in a department’s performance information,” a Department of Budget and Management statement said.
Regarding the allocations in the 2015 GAA, a huge chunk goes to social services, with P62.3 billion allotted to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program—the government’s flagship antipoverty program—to help 4.3 million needy families.
Education will be receiving P53.9 billion for basic-education facilities, such as classrooms, water and sanitation facilities, and classroom chairs.
Health is supported with P37.1 billion for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., or Philhealth, to assist 15.4 million poor and near-poor families, while housing will receive P11 billion to construct socialized housing for needy families and those in high-risk and danger zone areas.
Infrastructure will be a major area of expenditure, with P185.8 billion allotted for the development of national roads and bridges, P10.6 billion for railways, and varying amounts for other projects.
Agriculture will be boosted with P89.1 billion for production projects under the Department of Agriculture and other related government agencies.
Climate-change adaptation and mitigation programs are highlighted in the 2015 GAA, with P14 billion set aside for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, with another P6.7 billion to be used as quick-response funds.
In the aftermath of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) and other natural disasters, the government’s recovery program, dubbed the Build Back Better program, will be funded with P21.7 billion.
In his speech during the enactment of the 2015 GAA, President Aquino said the power to bring about change in society is not held by one person or one group alone; it is in the hands of each Filipino.
“We have come a long way from where we were before,” the President said. “Now, on the straight path, we hold in our hands our own destiny….”
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THE year 2014 was not without challenges. Yet, as we look back, we see that we have weathered them with industry and grace, doing as best as we could with the time and resources that we had.
The vaunted Filipino traits of resilience and bayanihan saw us through once more, boosted by preparedness borne of research, the creation of frameworks and systems, and active and mindful implementation.
As we look forward to 2015, the lessons learned will enable us to accelerate development and enhance competitiveness as we join other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in the Asean Community to ensure a stable, peaceful and prosperous Southeast Asian region, one of the major projects we look forward to.
On a personal note, I’m sure that those reading this will most likely be preparing for another round of feasting and celebrating for the approaching New Year. Let us be grateful for our blessings, and share them with those who need them most, especially at this time.
A very happy, peaceful and abundant New Year to all!
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II is the vice chairman and general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.