P3-T nat'l budget for 2016 now ready for PNoy's signature

The proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 will now be submitted to Malacañang for President Benigno Aquino III’s signature after the House of Representatives ratified on Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report on the measure.

The ratification took place on Congress’ last session day of the year. The Senate ratified the bill on Monday.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. told reporters before of the plenary session that Aquino plans to sign the 2016 General Appropriations Act into law on Dec. 22.

In his closing remarks before the session was adjourned, Belmonte said lawmakers were able to set a “new norm” by passing the budget bill on time for the last six years.

"I believe we have now firmly established the new norm in the enactment of the national government budget," he said.

"The next government—and succeeding Congresses—will have no more excuses for failing to pass the budget on time so that reenacted budgets will truly be a thing of the past," Belmonte added.

Belmonte said the timely passage of the proposed 2016 GAA is vital to improving public financial management, and to the country's macroeconomic environment that has resulted in the upgrade of the Philippines' credit ratings and competitiveness ranking.

The Department of Education received the biggest budget at P411.905 billion, including a P50-million fund increase for the preservation or restoration of Gabaldon school buildings, which are deemed as a national heritage.

SUCs get P47B

Funds were also provided for special education of persons with disability, sustainable development and teachers’ training.

The Philippine High School for the Arts is also allotted with an additional P25.468 million for capital outlay.

The state universities and colleges (SUCs) received additional funding for the “Tulong Dunong” program, academic buildings, provisions for equipment and other needed facilities with a total budget of P47 billion.

Additional allocations were provided for the construction of buildings and gymnasiums and support for the Philippine General Hospital and the modernization of the Philippine Normal University.

For the very first time, the national budget includes funding for the payment of the total administrative disability (TAD) pension for surviving spouses of deceased World War II veterans and partial payment for TAD pension for living post-war veterans who are at least 80 years of age as of 2016.

Congress provided funding – also for the first time – for capacity building programs in the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) budget. This is apart from the National Greening Program.

The DENR budget includes funding for the National Coral Restoration Program, which was introduced for the protection of marine ecosystems, primarily through massive coral restoration.

An additional amount was provided for the Philippine National Police's (PNP) to establish a command center, repair helicopters, and construct or repair police stations.

Quick Response Fund

The PNP, Department of National Defense-Office of the Secretary, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection were given Quick Response Funds as they are the frontliners in rescue operations during disasters.

The funds were realigned from the Department of Transportation and Communications' budget.

The joint committee also provided additional amount for the capital outlay and support for indigent patients under the Department of Health Office of the Secretary and Specialty Hospitals, including equipment outlays for the Philippine Heart Center.

Additional funds were allotted to the Department of Justice's right of way purchase for the construction of the New Bilibid Prison in Nueva Ecija and additional prison dormitories outside Metro Manila.

Under the budget of the National Bureau of Investigation, allotments were made for building repairs, modernization of the Cybercrime Division, and identification of disaster victims.

Additional funds for the Department of National Defense are for the construction or repair of barracks and air assets of the Philippine Air Force, as well as health service support enhancement, protection kits and equipment of the Philippine Army.

The bicameral committee, meanwhile, cut the proposed allocations for the Contingent Fund, the National Greening Program, and Philippine-California Advance Research Institute. The money was diverted to increase the proposed fund for the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The additional DOST allocation will be used to repair and construct various buildings of the Philippine Science High School and for technical assistance in favor of the Philippine Research Institute.

The bicam also cut the funds for Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines, since they are providing only for the 2016 capital requirements under the Basel III standards. —KBK, GMA News