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President Duterte promulgates the 2021 national budget at a ceremony in Malacañang attended by several members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Senator BONG GO photo
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte enacted the national budget of $ 4.5 trillion for 2021 on Monday.
The president signed the spending measure for next year at a ceremony in Malacañang attended by select members of the Senate and House of Representatives, as seen in a pre-recorded video broadcast on PTV.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today I stand before you happy and proud to sign the General Appropriations Act of 2021,” Duterte said in the prerecorded speech.
“This important piece of legislation testifies to the importance of active and fruitful collaboration between the executive and legislative branches of government, especially at this time when the health and well-being of the people is at stake.
Among the most prominent provisions of the budget are the P72.5 billion allocated for the government’s vaccination program against COVID-19.
Of this figure, P2.5 billion is deposited with the Department of Health (DOH), while the rest is in unscheduled allocations.
“Let me emphasize that one of the most important items in the 2021 budget is the allocation of P72.5 billion for the purchase of storage, transportation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines,” Duterte noted.
“Every penny of this budget must be spent to ensure the nation’s recovery, resilience and sustainability. Let me therefore offer a guarantee to the Filipino people: this coming year, we intend to recover as one nation, ”Duterte added.
The education sector, which covers the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, the Higher Education Commission and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, accounts for the majority of the budget with P708 billion.
The Department of Public Works and Highways received the second highest allocation with P694 billion.
The healthcare sector ranked third with an allocation of $ 287 billion. This funding covers the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, specialty hospitals, the Philippine Institute for Traditional and Alternative Health Care, the Health Facility Improvement Program, and the COVID-19 vaccine.
/ MUF
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