Government’s proposed 2022 budget not designed for COVID-19 recovery —groups

The proposed P5.024 trillion national budget for 2022 is not strategically allocated to address the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, civil society groups said on Thursday.

Zyza Nadine Suzara of the Institute for Leadership, Empowerment, and Democracy said the misguided priorities in the allocations of the 2022 National Expenditure Program might delay recovery.

“It is still not designed for recovery,” she said in a webinar of Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC).

Suzara pointed out that the biggest chunks of the budget will go to the Office of the President, the police, and the military, while less in social services, health, and education.

According to her, the budget is also an expression of the administration’s preparation for 2022 elections as most of the funding is provided for patronage projects.

“Nandyan din 'yung politika ng 2022 presidential elections (There is also politics for 2022 presidential elections),” Suzara said.

FDC board member Raquel Castillo pointed out that only P240 billion of the over P5 trillion budget is allocated for COVID-19 response that is lodged in different departments.

According to her, the significant portions of funds given to the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Trade are for their usual programs.

She agreed that the 2022 proposed budget is “an election budget. It is the one that upholds the militaristic approach to COVID-19 and uses COVID-19 as an excuse to achieve military objectives.”

Castillo pointed out that  priority was given to the Department of the Interior and Local Government over the Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Health.

According to her, P1.116 trillion of funds will be downloaded to local government units.

GMA News Online has reached out to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and DBM for comment on the matter but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.—AOL, GMA News