President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the 2020 national budget amounting to PHP4.1 trillion in the Malacañan in the afternoon of January 06, 2020. The inking was witnessed by various state officials including lawmakers and cabinet members.
The fund is 12% up from last year’s PHP3.662 trillion.
The ten government arms receiving the highest allocations are the Department of Education (PHP692.6 billion), Department of Public Works and Highways (PHP581.7 billion), Department of the Interior and Local Government (PHP241.6 billion), Department of Social Welfare and Development (PHP200.5 billion), Department of National Defense (PHP192.1 billion), Department of Health (PHP175.9 billion), Department of Transportation (PHP100.6 billion), Department of Agriculture (PHP64.7 billion), judiciary (PHP41.2 billion), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (PHP26.4 billion).
During his speech, the Chief Executive manifested his desire that the budget serve solely the interest of the Filipinos, not that of the few. “Together, let us ensure that every peso in the budget will never be used to support the selfish dream of the few, but spent exclusively for the benefit and the service of the Filipino taxpayers,” solicited he.
As he deliver his statement, the Head of State expressed his fear about the escalating tension between the United States of America and Iran. He mentioned that he had already instructed the military to gear towards a rescue mission on Filipinos in the Middle East. He, further, conveyed his suggestion to solons to conduct a special session in the Congress of the Philippines to endow the government with ample contingency fund relevant to said conflict. “I suggest that Congress, even for about, bahala kang one or two days, discuss the problems, the ramifications, but I don’t know where you want to put the money. Ako, ayaw ko, but if there’s a thing that who would need on standby that I can . . . that the government can get immediately, source it from where so that we can use the money immediately. This has . . . to cut across accounting rules and all of that (I suggest that Congress, even for about, it is up to you if one or two days, discuss the problems, the ramifications, but I don’t know where you want to put the money. To me, I do not like, but if there’s a thing that who would need on standby that I can . . . that the government can get immediately, source it from where so that we can use the money immediately. This has . . . to cut across accounting rules and all of that), the President said.
Later in the evening, there is an scheduled cabinet meeting.
