Duterte to sign P5-trillion national budget for 2022 on Thursday

Malacañang said Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte would sign the proposed P5.024-trillion budget for 2022 into law on Thursday, December 30.

"We expect the President to sign the budget tomorrow. It is what it is in the schedule," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said at a press briefing.

The signing of the budget measure was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but Nograles said on Wednesday that the review process was ongoing.

According to Nograles, the proposed budget will fund the aid for victims of Typhoon Odette, which devastated communities in several regions days before Christmas.

"With a new budget, with the fresh sourcing of funds from the NDRRM (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management) funds, the fresh sourcing of funds from the 2022 GAA, plus fresh QRF (Quick Response Fund), we will be able to address the need for construction materials of our countrymen worst-hit by Typhoon Odette," he said.

Ratified by both the Senate and House of Representatives on December 15, the budget bill contains COVID-19-related allocations, including at least P50 billion for the Special Risk Allowances of medical frontliners and another P50 billion for booster shots.

There are also allocations for the COVID-19 Laboratory Network Commodities, Department of Health epidemiology and surveillance program; purchase of drugs, medicines and vaccines that will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program. — VBL, GMA News