Marathon Senate plenary debates on ’24 budget kicks off today

THE Senate Committee on Finance yesterday endorsed for plenary approval its proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024, which chairperson Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said will allocate funding that would support the Marcos administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” or a New Philippines brand of governance.

“Sa madaling salita Ginoong Presidente, napapaloob sa panukalang badyet ang mga hakbang na nais tahakin ng gobyerno patungo sa isang Bagong Pilipinas, kung saan matatag, maginhawa, at panatag ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino (Simply put, Mr. President, the proposed national budget contains funding for government measures to achieve a New Philippines, one which is resilient, brings comfort to the people, and will provide a stable life for every Filipino),” Angara said as he sponsored his committee’s version of the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva said plenary debates on the prosed national budget will begin at 10 a.m. today. Deliberations on Thursday will also be the same. He said floor discussions on the proposed 2024 budget next week will be from Monday to Friday.

Angara said his committee crafted the proposed national budget to sustain government initiatives to keep up the country’s growth, which took a beating amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Angara said the committee has approved new appropriations in the amount of P4.302 trillion, of which P4.02 trillion are programmed funds, while P281.908 billion are listed as unprogrammed funds to ensure sustainability of growth.

He said they have also set automatic appropriations at P1.748 trillion.

“The 2024 budget will also pursue initiatives that enhance the global competitiveness and attractiveness to investors of our economy, aiming in particular to resolve the challenges our industries face in terms of expensive electricity and inadequate infrastructure,” he said.

He said allocations are also in place to enhance the country’s connectivity, digitalization, and digital transformation, as well as for digital skills, and development of information and communications technology in the countryside.

Angara assured the public that the Marcos administration’s flagship programs