Some members of the Lower House and Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado gathered for a preliminary meeting on Thursday to discuss priorities in drafting the 2021 national budget.
One of the priorities tackled in the meeting is the concern on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) being seriously affected by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The purchase of unimportant equipment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
is not considered as priority.
House Appropriation Committee Chairperson Rep. Eric Yap said funds will still be allocated for the agency but the needs of the economy to recover from the pandemic will be considered first.
Yap disclosed they can trim down allocations for foreign trips of officials amounting to Php 19 billion as a means to fund the fight against COVID-19.
They also said funds may be drawn from Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) and in some projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Report form Daniel Manalastas
